Hobby of the Month

Yes folks it's time for that time when our roaving reporter James gives us the low down on one of the hippest, coolest sports of all time.

Canoeing

Wow what a sport, everyone knows about it, but is it any good? I went along to The Forth Canoe Club in Edinburgh to have a look. It is the oldest canoe club in Scotland, one of the four that started up the Scottish Canoe Association, or SCA, and now the only one remaining.


Kelso R, the clubs' commodore told us about the different types of canoeing.

"Our club does all sorts of canoeing, unlike some of the other clubs which concentrate on just one area. The most popular just now is Canoe polo, which is a simple football on water type game.
Slalom is popular but can not be done very well on the canal which we practise on. In this you simply guide your boat through gates (Two vertical dangling poles) in numerical order, down a river. The fastest time wins.
The club has the ladies world champion in river racing in it. As the name of the sport suggests you race down a river.
For the less competitive you can simply have a nice relaxing paddle with your friends either at the canal here or on a river, or for a lot of exitement, surfing on the beach. (Just do the same as you would on a board only in a boat, it's a lot more fun trust me.)"


What facilities does the club have? We asked Alistair, the attendant for details.

"The club is situated at the Union Canal in the centre of Edinburgh, where everybody paddles for practice. Within an hour's drive are the fastest rapids in Scotland (and a lot of slower ones), some great beaches for surfing, and of course we have the best facilities here. (Toilets, changing rooms, showers, large boat storage and club boats for people without their own.)"

A great place obviously, what do the paddlers think?

Henry Volans "Great, I paddle, enter competitions and most of all have a lot of fun."

Victoria Grey "This is not just a lonely one person activity, my whole family canoes, and I have made lots of friends here."

Riddell, Scottish Schools under 14 champion, "I can do everything I want here, and within an hours drive."


Well what a great club, for more information contact Forth Canoe Club, 24 Hartington Place, Edinburgh. (0131) 229-9586 Alistair@Riddell.Demon.co.uk

James R, Roaving Reporter

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