Plain sailing at canoe club
Name: Macclesfield And District Canoe Club (MADCC). What do you do?: MADCC is a club for adults, young people, and families. Our members have a wide range of paddle sport interests including touring, moving water trips, flat water racing and sea kayaking. The club’s qualified coaches are able to offer training and assessments for national skills awards in many aspects of paddle sport. We have regular club meetings, including winter pool sessions, sea and river trips. The club runs the well-known annual 96-mile Cheshire Ring race, as well as other flat-water races, and also organises regular trips to moving water, camping trips and pool training sessions. Where and when do you meet?: We are holding regular Friday evening pool sessions at Bollington Pool with monthly sessions at Brereton Country Park. We also hold weekend activities in order to introduce members to moving water and the fun and challenge of paddling rivers. We try and run at least one moving water trip suitable for beginners each month. During the summer regular club meetings, with coaching if required, are held on Monday evenings in Bollington. We meet at the car park of the Adelphi Mill, Grimshaw Lane, Bollington SK10 5JB, from 7pm-9pm. Where do you host your events?: Macclesfield canal in Bollington, Brereton Country Park, plus during the winter we hold pool sessions, with sea and river trips continuing at weekends. Race boat paddling sessions take place year-round on Sunday mornings and weekday evenings. How do I start kayaking and canoeing?: If you would like to try kayaking and canoeing with MADCC you should come to a club night to meet us and find out more. We can usually get new people on the water for a try-out on most club evenings. Club sessions are held on Mondays at Bollington and on Thursdays at Brereton between April and the end of September – when evenings are light. The club sessions are supervised by nationally qualified club coaches with the help of experienced club paddlers. What should I bring?: To begin with you do not need to buy any specialist clothing. You will get splashed and dripped on, so wear clothes that you don’t mind getting damp and perhaps a bit muddy. A wind-proof jacket is also very useful (an old cagoule is perfect). Don’t wear jeans or heavy cotton clothing as they feel very cold once they are wet. Try and wear some form of water shoes or plimsolls as larger footwear/trainers may not fit within some of the kayaks. Make sure that you bring a full change of clothes and a towel in case of unexpected swims! Are there any special requirements?: You should be able to swim at least 50m before considering trying canoeing. Juniors can come along to moving water trips but we ask that they be accompanied by an adult that is either also going to paddle or stay available on the bank. Booking required – please contact us before your visit to ensure we can arrange for the appropriate equipment to be provided. What events have you got planned?: We have a Moving Water Paddle session on Sunday, January 21, and a Sea Kayak Paddle planned for Sunday, February 4, weather permitting. Any more information?: We charge a £10 fee for use of equipment and instruction for non-members. For more details, visit www.madcc.btck.co. uk or visit our Facebook page.