Stand Up Paddleboards

We obtained some stand-up paddleboards at the end of last year. The club owns 4 which are stored at the Loch Lomond outdoor container. Sandy will be providing the opportunity to try out paddleboarding at the Tuesday night sessions on Loch Lomond. If you want to book one of the four boards available drop him a text on 07962 226280.                 Hopefully it will be a bit warmer than the picture!...
Read More

Elterwater Lake District River Weekend

Having undertaken extensive research Graham was able to identify a suitable Hostel in Elterwater which was cheap, had both male and female sleeping areas, a dry room, a full English breakfast, close to a pub, and central to a wide range of rivers. The last criteria obviously being the most important! Travel arrangements in place we headed down to the Lake District as we experienced the tail of Storm Freya. Sandy’s wee van did well to make it up a 25% gradient hill fully laden and Sandy did well manoeuvring all the tight corners in the dark. Having dumped our kit in the prison…..sorry hostel….we headed down to the pub to wait on Graham and Campbell.   After a good nights sleep (in the ladies dorm) and a noisy sleep in the boys room we stocked up on energy reserves with a very tasty cooked breakfast. Following a most excellent exercise in skilful (tandem) navigation we arrived at our put-in point on the...
Read More

Additional Date for FS&RT

The weekend of 6 to 7 April 2019 is turning into a Foundation Safety and Rescue Weekend! Sandy had organised a course for the Saturday 6 April and this filled up so quickly that he has had to organise a further course for the following day. If you are interested in this course to develop your paddling or if you want to re-visit this course before Paddlesport Instructor training then you should contact Sandy sooner than later to obtain a place. sandy.johnston@sky.com 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...
Read More

News – British Canoeing launch new Personal Performance Awards

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

SCA Tour 29/07/2018

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

Boofing Resources

Some pre-reading for a Pinkston boofing session. If you like to read then follow the first link. Otherwise some videos embedded can help. Different authors will give slightly different views! https://www.canoekayak.com/skills/how-to-boof/ https://paddling.com/learn/boofing/ http://blistergearreview.com/recommended/pro-panel-boofing-technique Videos:       If you have lots of time then:...
Read More

Tesco Bag Fund Nov & Dec 2017

We have been chosen as one of three Tesco "Bag fund" good causes and we need you to vote using a token in store for us during November and December.The award will makea real differnce by helping fund new boats and coach and trip leader training. 1st Place recieves £4000, 2nd place £2000 and 3rd place £1000. You can vote at: Hardgate Tesco Express, Place Hardgate Clydebank Helensburgh Tesco Express, Clyde St Helensburgh. Helensburgh Tesco Metro, Sinclair St Helensburgh Milngavie Tesco Superstore, Milngavie More info Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – raised fromcarrier bag sales in Tesco stores - being awarded to local communityprojects. greenspace scotland is working with Groundwork to provide support to communities in Scotland Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant. DRUMCHAPEL AND CLYDEBANK KAYAK CLUB...
Read More

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

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

Safety Kayakers – Great Scottish Swim – 26 August 2017

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

River Allan – 19.02.17 – Tristan Armstrong

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

Loch Lomond Sports Hub AGM

The Loch Lomond Watersports Hub project is progressing and the AGM is this Monday evening. If you are free and would like to know more, show you support or even ask about getting involved please come along. Visit: http://dckc.co.uk/event/loch-lomond-watersports-association-agm/ has info on the meeting or loch-lomond-watersports-hub.org.uk about the project....
Read More

Roybridge Weekend

FRIDAY NIGHT. DCKC arrived at the Roybridge village hall, after the group had been fed and watered we all got our heads down reasonably early except one young river kayaker who decided in the middle of the night to to do some gymnastics with his sleeping mat "YOU NO WHO YOU ARE BOY" what a racket. SATURDAY MORNING. myself, Ian,Tom, David, and Tony had arranged to join two kayakers, Ian and Victoria, from the Ben Nevis kayak club at the Glenfinnan monument car park at 9.15am. Being keen, we arrived 40 minutes early, this gave Tom and Tony A opportunity to take some photos of the monument and surrounding area, it was stunning on such a frosty, sunny morning. Ian and Victoria arrived bang on time and we were on our way. TRIP REPORT.  We left the slipway at Inverailot in overcast conditions and paddled down a very calm Loch Ailort on the ebbing tide enduring a light shower, by the time we got to Rubha Chaolais, the western point of the...
Read More

Call for missing photos!

If you have any digital images from club trips back in the day then we have space for them on the club's awesome Smugmug photo gallery! Just email graham (grahammswanson@gmail.com) with the name of the trip and year/month/date and he will get you an upload link. We have also started "tagging" some images for people folders... https://dckc.smugmug.com/People-Folders   Here is a photo album of the club's selfie king. [SME_gallery ids='93Lg9X4,8nCnBhS,Z22nTrS,GZC4Bx9,wV2QkQC,RH6bS3M,xw7qWgb,C5Xq3R7,4mfPqGz,LRhFj9j,KCGr5gz,75FJD9G,kVsLR8b,3VLfz5d,QNMWnks,cWTR5Vf,zDM3hht' size='ThumbURL' columns='3' caption='' link='Large' new='']...
Read More