Club news
Penrith Canoe Club AGM 6th December 2020
Year in review
- Club is now in its 8th year and still developing as it has done every year.
- Just under 40 members, but we can’t cope with too many more!
- Restructuring of club sessions to meet Covid restrictions.
- Applying for Back to Play grant for winter kit
- No summer tournaments have taken place and the national league is on hold.
- Hoping things will go back to normal next year!
Teams
Penrith A - As some of the original A team moved to Uni or wanted to play in a higher league we restructured the teams and used the promotion of Penrith X team to Div 3 national for the new Penrith A team. Overall it was tough competition but the team played really well and we’re still waiting to get a date to play the final tournament. In the regional league we had some tough competition but held our own with some narrow misses.
Penrith Youth - Jasper took over as the team lead for this and they played some really good teams.
No Penrith Ladies team at the moment - We have tried to get a team together we have struggled, which is something we look to build on.
Local Tournaments
Cumbria Tournaments - This year these have been on hold, I believe we had one tournament early on but due to Covid these have been put on hold and we expect them to pick up once things settle down.
Ullswater Canoe Polo Comp - We did plan to run one this year but due to Covid it did not go ahead.
Tiger boat racing - Cancelled due to Covid.
Achievement awards
This year has been a strange one, but that said we’d still like to recognize members' personal achievements. All the coaches and team captains got together and decided the winners for Most Improved Trophies
For the youth trophy it was hotly contested with a few people in the running for it, but the person we’ve decided to award the trophy this year has shown great improvement in lots of areas, like his understanding of the rules, commitment to training and becoming a more confident paddler. The trophy goes to Jethro
For the adult category, again it was hotly contested but for showing great commitment and always playing with a smile on their face the trophy goes to Jasper
So to the plan for this season
As with many things this year we’re going into 2021 with a lot of questions and uncertainties, as such we aim to continue to run club sessions as best as we can and it's not looking like we’ll be back in the pool anytime soon. As such we’re looking to apply for a grant to get some warmer kit for members to use when we’re on the lake.
If we’re allowed we plan to start up the local tournaments and finish off the previous leagues we entered.
We are also going to keep the club payments at £5 per month per member until we either go back in the pool or start again at the Yacht Club.
Club Health
Equipment
We have started repairing some of the club boats and looking to replace our old spray decks that have seen better days.
We are also looking at getting some more boats refurbished to keep them going for a little bit longer.
Money
The club is doing okay financially, the new Direct Debit system seems to be working well and helping us keep track of money for tournaments. Jonathan to give a full report.
Communication
This has always been an issue, but does seem to have improved with a new club email account and everybody keeping details up to date.
Other awards
This year I’d like to award everybody on the committee a water bottle as it’s not been an easy year with us constantly having to make changes and update our policies to meet the ever changing rules around Covid-19, it's not been a easy task unpicking the rules and regulations but everybody has got onboard and chipped in to help out.
For their continued dedication, keeping involved in the sport even though he could not paddle due to an injury I’d like to award Brodie and water bottle and wish him and speedy recovery.
I’d like to award a water bottle to Thomas Nelson this year as he seems to have truly mastered the art of rolling and spends a lot of time upside down.
I’d also like to award a water bottle to Alex, he recently joined the club and he’s really got stuck in and has shown some great progress so for this I’d like to award him a water bottle.
This year we also had three keen younger members who attended all of the summer sessions at the Yacht club and did not shy away from getting involved in the mixed sessions. As such I’d like to award Harvey, Tyler, Con and Cameron a water bottle each.
Finally I’d like to award Nathan a water bottle as he’s made some great progress this year and it’s been great to see him down at the outdoor sessions.
Formal bits
This year there are no changes to the committee everybody has said they’d like to continue.
Who’s on the committee
Chris Archer - Chair
Jonathan Stables - Treasurer
Hilary Clarke - A team national captain & Welfare officer & Secretary
Tim Mather - A team regional captain & Coach development
Jack Dunn - Committee adviser
Dan Farley - Equipment officer
Jasper Carrott - Youth team captain
Brodie Coulthard - Social organiser
Rhys Kernan - Youth representative