Club news

CLUB NIGHTS WILL RECOMMENCE ON WEDNESDAY 12TH APRIL.

There will be a slight change in the format to sessions. Paddling activities will be broken down into smaller groups. This will allow some to practice skills, others to paddle at a speed and distance that reflects their ability and fitness.

Generally, sessions will be on the water for 6.30pm. However, particularly in the lighter nights provision will be made for an earlier start for those at work.

It is hoped that more use will be made of the clubroom and the bar, offering the opportunity to get together before or after the sessions.

With this in mind, the SUP group will now also meet on Wednesdays. extra midweek evening paddles and more

Hopefully, with increased size of the leadership group and those undergoing training there may be more opportunities for ad hoc extra midweek evening paddles and more and varied weekend paddles. But please rememeber they are all volunteers with other commitments.

SOCIAL

Once the season gets under way we will be organising the occasional get together on Friday evenings, ‘Family Fridays’. Members will be encouraged to bring their family and friends to the club to socialise and if they wish get on the water. Food may be available or you would be welcome to bring a picnic or use the BBQ. Camping will also be available.

Finally, thank you all for your Club Survey responses. the response level was excellent and very positive. We will try to increase and vary the activities, but we do understand as suspected, family and work commitments often limit paddling opportunities for many of you. However, it would be great to increase participation levels this year, so please come and join in.

We will see some you on the Dudley Tunnels Trip this weekend. For the rest we’ll hopefully see you on the water soon.

Thank you.

Shane Morgan

WEEKDAY PADDLES

We are restarting the midweek paddles, for those available on weekdays.

Very small turnout for the gentle paddle to BomBom Cafe on Friday. Great weather for November, although wind picked up on return.

For those interested there is a separate WhatsApp group, SBC Day Paddles.

Shane Morgan

The Paddler’s Code

Shilpa’s Paddle and Camping Weekend Itinerary

Friday 30 September:

Arrival set up camp and informal paddling. SUP yoga, SUP Mega Board and short sunset paddle.

Evening: Club bar open and Indian Street Food Available (Pre-order only with Shilpa . Details and phone number below).

Saturday 1 October:

Group 1.

9.30hrs Loughborough Loop- Leaders Shane and Keziah

For those looking for a longer day paddle exploring the canal through Loughborough returning via the River Soar. Please bring appropriate clothing, lunch and refreshments.

Group 2.

10.00hrs Eleven Arches and return- Leader Graeme

For those looking for a shorter, but scenic local paddle. Returning approximately 13.00hrs. Lunch at SBC.

15.00hrs to 17.00hrs Games and taster sessions on different craft.- Leader TBA

SUP’s including a Mega board, kayaks, sit-ons and open canoes all available to try.

14.00hrs SBC Cake and Craft in the clubroom.

For those of you who may want a break from the water. You are invited to join members of SBC in their monthly Cake and Craft session. Please bring cake and the craft (not boats!) of your choice.

Evening;

Club bar open. Fire-pit and BBQ’s will be lit and available, one meat and one vegetarian, (please bring your own food).

Sunday 2 October

08.00hrs to 12.00hrs Breakfast Paddle- Leader Rob L.

Destination to be decided. Please bring your own food, dishes cooker etc if required.

Or Informal Paddling.

All of the above are subject to change and are weather dependant.

There will, hopefully, be a SUP Yoga sessions available, (Details TBA).

All members are invited and encouraged to the whole weekend or any individual activity or session. Please come and celebrate the end of Shilpa’s year as British Canoeing’s She Paddles ambassadorship.

Safety and Rescue Training.

This weekend 12 volunteers completed a Safety and Rescue Course (FSRT) at SBC. Six prospective leaders each day, on a 8 hour course.

The course was very practical and a lot of the day was spent on and in the water. Jenna the instructor was excellent.

So the club now has 12 paddlers trained up in rescue and safety who will not only increase the safety of club sessions and trips safer they will be able to pass their knowledge and skills onto you all. So thank you to Graeme, Leighton, Keziah, Gee, Lee, Rob H., Shilpa, Ghee, Fiona, Dave B, Dan and Rob L.

Shane

All Photos Frank Hulme ©

Welcome Home Shilpa

Friday the 24^th June saw Shilpa cross the finish line in style after her mammoth 169mile (and 145 locks) paddle from the Pirate Castle in Camden to the Soar Boat Club in Normanton on Soar.

Shilpa had set off two weeks earlier accompanied by a flotilla of kayaks and a canal boat from the Pirate Castle which accompanied her through the Maida Hill tunnel on the Regents Canal. After passing the Paddington Basin the adventure proper started as we waved good bye to (husband) Geehan and Shane who stayed on the boat.

Shilpa and the first 4 support paddlers (Nicki, Belle, Deborah and Daniel) carried on for the next 16 miles to Yeadling, meeting Friends of the Grand Union and helping to litter pick along the way. At the end of the day Willow marina was a welcome sight, along with Geehan and Paul (Deborahs husband). For the next two weeks Shilpa made some very early starts to avoid the heat, and accompanied by one or two people each day made her way up the Grand Union making many new friends along the way. Many of these were made through social media and offered accommodation and other local knowledge.

Richard and Hillary Whitby of SBC very kindly offered accommodation on their boat as they returned from their holiday circuit and then accompanied Shilpa for over a week acting as a support boat with many welcome cups of tea. Other members of the club walked and cycled on a number of days and Geehan managed to fit a few days paddling in after getting bitten by the SUP bug earlier this year.

The evening of the 24^th saw Shilpa and a small group set out from Barrow upon Soar, with Richard and Hilary close behind. After meeting a much larger group of paddlers at Bishop Meadow Lock a flotilla formed on the Soar to be welcomed by even more members of the club filling the pontoons and river to bursting point. Following an evenings celebration the following day it was decided that Shilpa hadn’t gone quite far enough and so the original 5 set off from the club to Trent lock.

During this phase of the trip discussion was made of what the next adventure should be!

Daniel Lloyd

Shilpa’s welcome home party

REMINDER REMINDER

This Friday. Shilpa has made excellent progress and will probably have to delay her arrival for us to assemble and welcome her home. Let’s all make it worth it. Please sign up on Band. Nice to see all club boats out.

Evening party to welcome Shilpa home after her epic SUP challenge, London to SBC.
6pm Flotilla meet at Bishop Meadow Lock, Loughborough.
7-7.30pm Shilpa escorted by flotilla arrives at SBC
7.30pm picnic and bar open. Camping available.
Hopefully, we can get as many and varied craft as possible to meet Shilpa and escort her back to SBC. For those unable to get on the water please join us at the club.
Please bring your family and a picnic

Shane Morgan

Breakfast Paddle

Gorgeous breakfast paddle today – we had fabulous sunshine! It was a good opportunity to discuss kit – one of my favourite topics at the moment – footwear, car key holders, gloves/ poggies. Stopped at the island and cooked breakfast before speeding back with the flow – the river levels were high but it was absolutely fabulous.#shepaddles

Shilpa

Early morning paddle

Gorgeous early morning paddle and freshly prepared breakfast for the non vegetarians! Felt like a holiday – tried to capture Rob falling in – but he didn’t oblige!

Shilpa Rasaiah

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#shepaddles British Canoeing Ambassador

I joined the Soar Boating Club as a complete beginner some five years ago – nervous to get into a kayak! Key members of the club (Shane, Dave, Graeme, Dan Rob Gee) have supported and encouraged me to build my confidence and try different crafts. During the past five years or so they took me on some fabulous weekend adventures exploring various British rivers. Recently the club acquired SUP boards and wow – I just absolutely loved it . I loved the feeling of standing up tall on the water, being offered drinks by the barge boaters who were moored on the banks, the tranquility and beauty of the riverside. I loved the independence I got from SUP – the boards were light enough for me to carry. I wanted to take this new found love to a new level but didn’t know how. A very supportive paddling friend of mine – Carys encouraged me to become a #shepaddles ambassador – I was unsure as I don’t have any special skills or training! – but I do absolutely love being on the water, am keen to develop myself and have some exciting new adventures and I’d love to encourage other women to be empowered to experience the joys and delights of the waterways. So I am super humbled to have been selected by British Canoeing as one of their ambassadors – It’s a privilege to be working alongside such awesome experienced ambassadors- they will be a fantastic group of ladies to call on and share ideas with and seek advice from. I will share my journey of the ups and downs via Instagram and hopefully encourage others along the way. If you wish to follow Shilpa on instagram @sup.loving.shilpa

Shilpa

Click on the link below to find out more

ShePaddles Ambassadors British Canoeing