Reading Canoe Club
Reading Canoe Club is a volunteer organisations run by its membership and managed by its committee. It's focus is to provide kayaking and canoeing to Reading
and the surrounding area. There is no commercial remit and we are looking to develop paddlers and our sport.
We appeal to people for whom canoeing is not just a summer activity.
Take a look at our 2009 introduction leaflet for more details about who we are and what we do.
Our novice activities and programs run from spring to autumn, after which you should be able to join the main
club activities that take place all year round.
Introductory Courses
Our qualified and experienced volunteer coaches offer a selection of courses and sessions for junior and for adult beginners.
The aim of these courses is to give you an appreciation of the sport and the basic skills and knowlege that will set
you on your way to a lifetime of enjoyment on the water.
Adult Novice Introductory Course - 6 weeks
During 2009 we ran three very popular intro courses for adult novices on Tuesday evenings.
Provision for 2010 will be announced early in the year.
Junior Novice Introductory Course - 6 weeks
Saturday mornings 11am:
This course, suitable for juniors aged 8 or over, ran on Saturday mornings in 2009.
The courses were run by Brian Greenham.
Provision for 2010 will be announced early in the year.
In all cases we reserve the right to assess course members and if the course is deemed unsuitable for them we would do our best to
recommend an alternative option and will refund the fee pro-rata for unused sessions.
Due to the nature of the sport conditons are sometimes such that it would be unsafe to go out on the water, and under those circumstances our coaches
will do their best to either provide an alternative session or reschedule.
Our courses include temporary membership of the club for the duration of the course, and a condition of joining
is that you agree to abide by the Club Rules and Policies (which can be found on the RCC website in our "the club" section).
It is hoped that our beginners will go on to become full members of the
club in due course.
Booking onto a course
All of our courses are limited to a given number of paddlers per intake - so book early to avoid disapointment.
Adult Come And Try It sessions
In 2009 our adult coaching team continued to run out traditional "come and try it" sessions on Saturday mornings at 11am.
There is fee of £5 per session, and a limit of three sessions after which novices are required to either book onto a
course or take out full membership of the club. These sessions are due to finish at the end of September, and are expected to restart
just after Easter. There is no booking procedure, just turn up in light clothing (no jeans) & with a towel and change of clothes for afterward.
We do our best to accomodate everyone but there is a limit on numbers, so arrive early to secure your place.
Provision of these sessions for 2010 is subject to confirmion on this page early in the year.
Over 10s Fun Sessions
Our fun sessions for the over-10s ran on Thursday evenings 17:30 to 18:30.
Free to club members, non-members attended up to three sessions at a fee of £5 per session after which they
needed to become members if they wished to continue.
There is a maximum of eight boats / 12 paddlers per session, although this is reduced if the conditions are
unfavourable. No booking required, but please bear in mind that the session size is limited. Priority goes to
club members. Adult members are welcome to join in, and would be additional to this number but must go through
a basic safety procedures test with Nigel beforehand
The 2009 intake has now finished, and no new paddlers can join until the 2010 sessions start up.
Provision for 2010 will be announced early in the year.
Under 10s Fun Sessions
Our fun sessions for the under-10s ran on Monday evenings 17:30 to 18:30 and Thursday evenings 16:30 to 17:30.
Free to club members, the charge to non-members was £5 per session.
There is a maximum of six participants per session, although this is reduced if the conditions are
unfavourable. No booking required, but please bear in mind that the session size is limited. Priority goes to
club members. Minimum age 6 years + (the coaches have discretion to decide whether the activity
is suitable for the child.)
The 2009 intake has now finished, and no new paddlers can join until the 2010 sessions start up.
Provision for 2010 will be announced early in the year.
Frequently asked questions:
What should I bring and wear?
Do I need to be able to swim?
Do I need any specific equipment?
I haven’t paddled for ten years?
Do I need to be fit?
When do next year's sessions start up?
What should I bring and wear?
While canoeing, it is important that clothing protects the body but does not restrict movement.
Clothing that gets heavy when wet, like jeans and woollens, are unsuitable. Wetsuits are mostly unnecessary.
For the majority of conditions, layers of light, fitted clothing that will dry quickly when damp are most suitable.
Thermals are ideal. Beginners should bring:
Shorts or leggings.
T-shirts and thin long-sleeve tops.
Cagoule or other short light windy-proof top.
A change of clothes and a towel
Do I need to be able to swim?
It would be an advantage to be able to swim 50 metres but this does not necessarily prohibit those that cannot but
please inform the instructor if you are a weak or nervous swimmer. Being onfident in and around water is more important.
You will be expected to wear a buoyancy aid for most activities, and we do ask that you be capable of swimming 50
metres in canoeing clothing with the aid of a bouyancy aid.
Do I need any specific equipment?
We have everything to get you started : boat, paddles and bouyancy aid.
I haven’t paddled for ten years?
Come along to an Open session on Saturday and see what you can remember, and this will tell us whether you need to
do an intro course or whether you can join the club straight away.
Do I need to be fit?
Not especially, however it is a great way to get fit if you want!
When do next year's sessions start up?
The information will be posted on this page as soon as we can confirm what we will be offering for beginners next season.
TIPS FOR NEW PADDLERS
DO wear the appropriate clothing. Ask where this maybe purchased.
DO wear a Bouyancy Aid.
DO listen to the Coaches.
DO be aware that the coaches are all volunteers
DO learn how to stop and how to make an approach to the bank without causing damage to your kayak.
DO when on the water stay in a group with your fellow paddlers and coaches.
DO be aware of other river users, especially rowing boats, they can move quickly.
DO help to put all equipment away after use and shut boatshed bay doors.
DO join us for coffee after paddling to discuss anything about the mornings activities.
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience about canoe-sport amongst the members.
DO NOT place kayaks on the concrete areas if avoidable.
DO NOT sit in your kayak on the land.
If you capsize:
DO stay with your kayak, holding it lightly by one end.
DO try and retain your paddles.
Move towards the nearest bank. Help will arrive and show you how to safely empty the kayak.
DO NOT attempt to climb on top of the kayak.
DO NOT get too cold, go back to the club and change. Bring extra kit.
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