Dear Paddler
Welcome to the August update from the club.
Safety and Rescue Training – this has been so popular that we have added another Thursday night session for 8 more places. You can book now for Thursday the 11th of August. This is aimed at paddlers wishing to become independent paddlers and will give you a great understanding of how to get back into your boat/board and how to rescue someone else. The course is certificated by British Canoeing.
Invasive species – the club has been approached by the Canals and Rivers Trust to support with the removal of Pennywort from the Beeston Canal on Sunday the 14th of August. (Time to be agreed). This invasive species clogs up the waterways and makes paddling really difficult. Using open canoes you will drag the pennywort across the canal to the towpath and help remove it from the canal. The Canal and Rivers Trust will then supervise its removal and destruction. Please contact Trevor Tarlton-Weatherall on Recreation@hppcc.co.uk if you would like to help. This is a great opportunity for paddlers to support the environment.
Remember that if you take your boat from one waterway to another you should always check your kit, clean it thoroughly and dry it to avoid transferring invasive species between waterways.
Safety recall – British Canoeing has been made aware of product recalls for eleven models of buoyancy aids and lifejackets presenting a serious risk of drowning. Eleven models sold via Amazon with brand names NILIPEI, FLOATTOP, LIXONG, ROSOAMY, GRELANT, AJING, ZENING, STECTO, OMOUBOI, WELLPATH and Rrtizan. The products do not meet the requirements of the relevant regulations and show no demonstration of having been conformity assessed.
If you have bought one of these BA or Lifejackets you should not use it, and should immediately contact the seller. It is important that when purchasing safety equipment you can be sure that they have been safety tested to the relevant standards, to ensure your own safety.
Pool Sessions – We are delighted to let you know that we will again be running pool sessions over the Winter at the Ken Martin pool, and will also be running specialist Freestyle sessions at Clifton Pool as well this Winter. If you are interested in the Freestyle sessions (designed for paddlers with their own boats) then please contact Andrew Good on Freestyle@hppcc.co.uk for more information or to register an interest.
Stand up Paddleboard Safety – British Canoeing have been made aware of a number of accidents involving Stand up Paddleboarders who have incurred injuries in shallow water when they have been thrown from their boards, especially when the fins run aground. If you are using a SUP please take care in shallow water and kneel to avoid problems.
Enjoy your paddling and take care in hot weather.
Kind regards
Dawn Scott
Chair of Trustees.