Poole Harbour Canoe Club is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation -  Registration # 1152531

Poole Harbour Canoe Club has always tried to make paddling with the club - in whatever craft you choose - not only as safe as possible but also as much fun as possible.  

That’s why 2016 saw the introduction of what we hope to be a really successful venture - pioneered by Jenni Dennett.   If you’d fancy developing this then please chat to a trustee :-)

So how’s it going to work ?  That’s easily answered in that the aim is to get members trying out something you don’t normally do - maybe because you lack confidence to try, or maybe because you have no idea where to start…… but with so many skilled members with experience across a wide range of the strands of kayaking and canoeing there should be loads of help available.

There is a document (download it from here) on which the first series of tasks have been listed. There may be more added - and if you can suggest new ideas then Jenni or one of the other members of the committee will be keen to hear from you.

Paddles that qualify for the PHCC Challenge will be advertised to members by email and will be marked with the symbol seen on the form.  

So … Check out the different ‘Bronze’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Gold’ Challenges and get involved !

Paddles that qualify for the PHCC Challenge will be advertised to members by email and will be marked with the symbol seen on the form.  

So … Check out the different ‘Bronze’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Gold’ Challenges and get involved !

If you would like to organise something please let Jenni know and she will help you to get in touch with people who can help if you need it, or to send out the email to the club.

Some opportunities to do some challenges may present themselves on a Wednesday evening once we are back at lake pier, again look for the challenge logo and come along and have some fun.

Obviously some of the challenge trips will require paddlers to be of a certain standard,  but hopefully everyone will get the chance to progress their own paddling throughout the year and join in where appropriate.

If you would like to see any other discipline in these challenges that may have been overlooked please feel free to make a suggestion.

These challenges will all be part of organised club trips, and events, you will recognise which qualify for the challenges by the challenge logo appearing on the email advertising the event or trip.

There will obviously be more challenges later in the year- some including aspects of Greenland rolling.

Open boat challenge flat water

Bronze

Paddle in a straight line

Silver

Learn 6 paddle strokes, be able to steer a course around obstacles

Gold

Learn canoe ballet

Open boat challenge moving water

Bronze

Ferry glide solo across medium river flow, perform 'S' turns in flow(local river)

Silver

Paddle a grade 2 river - solo or tandem (organised club trip)

Gold

Do a white water safety & rescue

course specifically for canoes (club

organised training - or official BCU one)

Coracle (ish) challenge  (organised weekend)

Bronze

Paddle a 'coracle' across the River Stour at Wimborne without falling in

Silver

Paddle a 'coracle' – point A to point B

Gold

Race a 'coracle' from point A to point B

Polo challenge

Bronze

Take part in a polo session at Ferndown pool.

Silver

Form a team with your friends and take on other teams for a games evening  ……..      also referee one game

Gold

Take part in a polo match against another club - or- Do an official referee course

Surf challenge (organised club surf days as conditions allow)

Bronze

1 foot waves. Surf the soup pointing towards the beach - no bongo slides.

Silver    

2 foot waves. Change direction twice on face of a wave & exit over dying wave.

Gold    

3 foot waves. Take off on green face. Complete a bottom turn and a top turn.

Organisation of a trip or event

Bronze

Organise a short club trip - you don't have to be the trip leader, look at tides/ water levels etc, arrange safety cover and experienced paddlers as necessary

Silver

Organise a club paddling weekend - you don't have to be the leader on the water, just organise and ask leaders and experienced paddlers to provide safety cover and lead on the water

Gold  Take on a role within the club, or organise a club event