Star tests no more. Welcome to the personal performance awards.

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
January 2019 sees the introduction of the personal performance awards. These awards are discipline specific and place the paddler firmly at the centre of the process allowing paddlers to gain recognition and development in the craft and environment that they choose. The awards are concerned with learning and improving underpinned by an ethos of 'supporting the paddler' so they should be a bit friendlier than the old star tests. Further information can be found at: https://www.britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/new-personal-performance-awards/#home There are 3 paddle awards, Paddle Start, Paddle Discover and Paddle Explore. These are for people who are new to paddling and provide progressive levels of attainment which will be achievable as they develop their skills and progress as paddlers. These lead on to the discipline specific pathway awards. There are three awards in each discipline which also provide a progression allowing paddlers to develop in the paddling discipline that they are interested in. However unlike the star tests (the old award system) the paddler can choose...
Read More

Instructor Training

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Is anyone interested in becoming an Instructor in any of the following: kayak sea kayak canoe SUP This qualification allows you to instruct (normally beginners) in a very sheltered water environment.  It is discipline specific in that you only paddle the craft that you are happy in (you can do it in more than one craft if you wish) Further information can be found at https://www.britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/new-paddlesport-instructor/ If you are interested in this first step along the road to becoming a coach please contact me on sandy.johnston@sky.com or 07962 226280 or see me at the pool  or Pinkston sessions. Sandy  ...
Read More

Open Canoe Autumn Sessions

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
A series of one day sessions designed for those who wish to progress in the art of open canoeing. We will be looking at development of technique both on open water and progressing onto easy rivers. The sessions will be tailored to provide a progression for those taking part and will be coached. Above all though I'm looking to enjoy some paddling in different locations and conditions through the Autumn. Hope you can join me................... Sandy Any questions, see me at Pinkston or at the pool sessions, or email on sandy.johnston@sky.com Sunday 23 September 2018 Saturday 13 October 2018 Sunday 28 October 2018 Sunday 11 November 2018 Sunday 25 November 2018 Sunday 9 December 2018...
Read More

News – British Canoeing launch new Personal Performance Awards

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
British Canoeing have announced details of the awards that will replace the star tests. http://canoescotland.org/news/british-canoeing-announces-new-personal-performance-awards The Personal Performance Awards are designed for paddlers wanting to gain recognition of their learning and development, in the craft and environment they choose. The process of completing the awards is based on learning and, as such, the ethos of ‘supporting the paddler’ is the main focus of all the awards, encouraging individuals in their personal development. The new Personal Performance Awards include: Paddle Awards: Three introductory awards – Start, Discover, Explore – that are designed for those new to paddlesport Discipline Specific Awards: 12 pathways comprising three awards which enables paddlers to choose the environment, craft and paddle sport discipline that is right for them. We will be providing the opportunity to gain these new awards from January 2019....
Read More

Foundation Safety and Rescue Course 05/08/2018

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
The British Canoeing Foundation Safety & Rescue Training course is the first safety course that most paddlers encounter as it teaches the safety skills that the other courses then build on and develop. You will be shown simple and effective techniques which will allow you to deal with the common problems that you can be confronted with on flat water whether you paddle a kayak, a canoe or a sea kayak. By the end of the course you will be a safer paddler as you will have the skill to be able to rescue others in a wide variety of situations and you will be able to empty a variety of boats in a safe and easy way. Topics covered on this course include: Safety and rescue protocols. Equipment – what to carry. Simple reaching rescues. Simple throwing rescues. Swimmer tows and rescues. Tows and towlines. Safe boat emptying for kayaks, canoes and sea kayaks. Returning swimmers to boats. Dealing with...
Read More

SCA Tour 29/07/2018

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Sandy Johnston is running an SCA Tour on 29/07/2018 entitled Loch Lomond Canoe and SUP. If anyone is interested in either craft and fancies a day out on the Loch contact Sandy on sandy.johnston@sky.com We can arrange the use of club canoes however you will need your own SUP if that is your preference. Sandy...
Read More

Easter Open Canoe trip 30/03/2018 – 01/04/2018

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Hi As usual we are planning to run an open canoe trip over the Easter weekend. Possible venues include The Great Glen, The River Tay from Killin to Perth, The River Spey from Loch Inch to the sea, the River Dee or the River Tweed. The plan would be to paddle the route, wild camping overnight and be self sufficient. The final choice of venue will be dependent on weather/participants/river levels and the aspirations of those taking part. If doing this type of trip with a commercial provider you would be looking at £400 per head. We will manage it for a lot less. If interested please contact Sandy on sandy.johnston@sky.com Keep an eye out for the training days when open canoeing wisdom can be obtained!...
Read More

August 26 2017 – Great Scottish Swim – And should we do other events?

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Thanks to all 22 kayakers who took part in the Great Scottish Swim and raised £2200 for the Club funds. This was a long day for all that took part. The initial briefing was described by one participant as occurring at an ungodly hour and everyone had to be there changed and ready to go! However everyone was kept busy and the day went without incident. (Or at least that was what I was told - any stories can be added below in the comments section below). We are approached from time to time asking for safety kayakers for various swim events with the normal payment being around £40 to £50 per kayaker. I haven't used these for fundraising in the past as I felt that this payment was insufficient compensation to people to give up their days off. However after discussing it with several club members who took part in the Great Scottish Swim these additional relatively local events could...
Read More

Beginners Trip – Loch Lubnaig – Sunday 7th May

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
The weather has been glorious over the last few days and that was no exception this Sunday when Sandy, Paul, Alison,  Ellen, Jim, Connor, Paul, David, Clive, me (Geri) and Matthew met at the Miller Street container for what looked like a positive start to the day.    It was a fairly straight forward drive up to the Loch although it was fairly clear that traffic might be an issue at some point in the day.  Significantly smaller than the major lakes of the area, but easily accessible along the A84, Loch Lubnaig is popular with picnicker, walkers and cyclists.  There are two car parks providing easy access to the southern end of the loch, both close to pleasant beaches.   A parking fee applied of £4 for the day but the new pound coin didn’t work, neither apparently did a card, so for some, parking was free. In all we were 11 paddlers (with two junior kayakers joining us).  It was the...
Read More

Safety Kayakers – Great Scottish Swim – 26 August 2017

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Great Scottish Swim - Safety Kayakers wanted for Club Fundraising Opportunity Hi everyone, Last year we made about £2000 for the club funds by providing safety kayakers for the Great Scottish Swim. This year we have the opportunity to do this again and hopefully raise another £2000. The event is taking place on Saturday the 26th of August at Loch Lomond.    The requirements are similar to last year. To be considered for the team kayakers must have at least one of the following qualifications OR previous Great Swim event experience: Swim Event Safety Award (SESA) BCU 2 star BCU Coach Level 1+ Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (FSRT)   On behalf of the club I have offered to provide 20 kayakers. If you are available on 26 August and want to help out with a bit of fundraising please contact Sandy sandy.johnston@sky.com I will be running FS&RT training courses on Sunday 9 July and also on Sunday 13 August. These dates will provide training opportunities for those that need them, but this is...
Read More

Foundation Safety and Rescue Training – Only one place left!

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
This course is free to club members (apart from certificate fee) who are volunteering as rescue kayakers at the Great Scottish Swim on Saturday 26 August 2017. Otherwise the fee for club members for this course is £30. This course is the British Canoe Union Safety course that all other safety courses are built on and is often a prerequisite for future development. The next course will take place on Loch Lomond on Sunday 13 August 2017. There is only one place left on this course. This course is designed for all paddlers irrespective of craft. The objective is to teach simple and safe skills that can be applied appropriately across a variety of paddlesport craft including kayaks and canoes.  These skills will then form the basis of all safety and rescue training throughout the BCU Scheme. The course aims to provide the student with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely in a sheltered water environment and to be able to deal...
Read More

River Allan – 19.02.17 – Tristan Armstrong

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Another planned day out by Sandy, making use of whatsapp to keep everyone up to date, and allowing myself, Derek, Chris, Leigh, and Campbell sign up for the day. An exciting river trip in the grade of 3+. We were all looking for a challenge, something to push us a little bit. Checking the river levels the night before confirmed my worries, very little rain around. Where would we go? We all meet up at Miller Street container and Sandy drops the bomb, Allan Water is his hope. My instant thoughts go back to my last paddle there....lots of swims. My chances of staying dry had just diminished. The back ups were the Teith and the Tay which will go in most levels. So off we went in hope with 4 kayaks and two open canoes, making use of the trailer to cut back on  cars at the get out. On arrival we checked the level, a little lower than we...
Read More

River Teith 02/10/2016

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Here is a trip report from one of our younger club members..............Connor McCLuskey. The River Teith  It takes about an hour to get to Callander from the Clydebank area. To get into the river it is probably better to seal launch because of the upstream current in the eddy at the entry point. During the time I was there, the water was near its highest point so it got to grade 3 water at some points and was really fast flowing, especially near the end at a rapid called Torrie.  The good thing about this river is that in between the rapids there was slower and calmer water which gave you time to have a break in a near by eddy. Something to watch out for is the height of the waves and the amount of reasonable sized rocks in the middle of the river. As a group because of the amount of rocks, we had to basically navigate a route through some,...
Read More