Canoe and Kayak Club off to good start
The Peterborough Canoe and Kayak Club has hit the water paddling.
Three weeks after the club’s launch at Johnson Park, immediately north of Beavermead Park, they sent their first group of paddlers to competition at the Carleton Place Regatta near Ottawa on the weekend and brought home medals and several top six placings. The club sent eight paddlers ranging in age from eight to 14 who have been introduced to the sport on Little Lake in recent weeks.
Ethan Henwood placed third in the under-13 boys K1 (singles) 200 metre race while Zander David was third in the U11 boys K1 200m event.
Isabel Simpson placed sixth in U15 girls K1 at 500m. Lucas Lipsett and David placed fifth in boys K2 (doubles) over 200m.
David also joined youth from across the province to win first place in the U11 mixed War Canoe 200m race.
“They did a great job,” said PCKC head coach Darren Mossman.
“It’s tough going out against other paddlers who have been racing for a couple of years. Potentially, you could have U13 paddlers who have been paddling for five years. It was really great that despite our kids only paddling for three weeks they were able to compete with some of the other clubs who have been around for over 100 years.”
Mossman said he has 10 paddlers who registered for all eight weeks of their summer camp. They’ve had as many as 20 in a given week. Some of them have experience from other sports.
“They come and work hard,” Mossman said.
“We train every day in singles, doubles and four person boats.”
The not-for-profit club has space in their youth and adult programs for the remainder of the summer.
It’s open to both those looking to compete and those who want to learn to paddle recreationally.
“We’re still looking for kids for the full summer program or they can come and try it for a week or two weeks,” Mossman said.
“They are put with the kids who have joined for the whole summer so they’ll have someone to look at who has been doing it a bit longer and who can help out the newer kids.
“Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been taking some of the kids from the YMCA camp at Beavermead and allowing them to try out our boats.
“We’ve had some of those kids join once they are done at the Y camp. The biggest thing for us is trying to get exposure so people can see what we do and what our sport is all about.” The adult paddlers are planning to compete at the Canadian Nationals in Sherbrooke, Que. on Sept. 2.
NOTE: Program information and online registration are available at www.pckc.ca.