Words: Elaine Boyd
Photos: Ulster CC
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Ulster Canoe Club year in review
Since I started paddling with Ulster Canoe Club, I have enjoyed being active outdoors in every season and in all weather. After another busy and rewarding 12 months, I decided to try my hand at UCCs first canoeing review of the year. This includes a selection of paddles, assessments and courses that paddlers from UCC attended, just a selection due to the sheer number of events available with the club this year!
January started as we meant to go on, with a white water paddle on the Owenkillew, near Omagh. It was a new river for some of us and a well-worn route for others. Everyone there would agree it was a successful trip, with beautiful scenery, good company and plans for the year ahead.
As the month progressed, the club provided a variety of sessions to tempt brave souls out onto the water through the winter weather. There were coaching sessions for newer paddlers at Moira Lakes and two further river trips, including a group of 25 on the Upper Bann from Banbridge to Gilford. Six of us attended white water safety and rescue training with Keith Fitzsimmons. There were trips on Lough Beg, including a magical last-minute exploratory night paddle to Church Island.
February
Since discovering the joys of winter paddling, the rain has held a new charm for me. And February 2022 brought rain, lots and lots of rain. Some might say too much. There was a birthday trip to the Boyne, a pre-festival warm-up on the Mourne, and then a weekend of paddling at the first Ulster Canoe Festival – whitewater/edition.
This was a fantastic opportunity to develop our whitewater skills, with some talented local coaches in attendance. And to support the local bars in Gortin after a difficult few years due to Covid. It all ran perfectly until the rain, and the rivers ran a little too well. Sunday afternoon was eventful, with the flood of the Owenkillew, Glenelly and Mourne. However, eventually, everyone (and most of their gear) returned home safely with many a story to tell.
Some of our members had been working towards assessment for a few months. In March, Gareth Mahood and John Flett completed the Open water canoe coach award, and Emily Boyd and Malcolm Wallace completed the Canoe open water leader qualification. Some newer recruits to the club also completed their Paddle Discover award, and 13 paddlers in total completed the Discover award in 2022.
We attended pool sessions in Belfast for rescue practice, and, at the end of the month, 30 of us enjoyed a longer trip than we had expected on the River Maine from Galgorm to Randalstown. To everyone but Gareth’s surprise, it was 10 miles, not 10km. You’d think we would learn! It was a glorious spring day, and we all enjoyed a leisurely lunch by the river, so it was no hardship.
April
The longer evenings in April saw the return of our midweek paddles, with our first outing to the Lagan in Belfast. It was a fitness test and came to be known as the Shaw’s Bridge Hunger Games. After all the hype in the group chat, the turnout was small. Funny that and those brave or stupid enough to attend survived the competition (mostly) unscathed.
Time for the first CANI recreational paddle in Portglenone, and then it was on to the club Easter camp. A busy overnight stay at the Quoile Yacht Club near Downpatrick, including skills sessions, an Easter egg hunt for the kids, and the first in a series of Ulster Canoe Challenges. This was a sailing race, and there may have been some underhand tactics – I’m naming no names – but John Wilkinson deservedly won.
Next came May, and one of my favourite trips, from Coleraine to Castlerock on the Lower Bann through the Barmouth to land on the beach. I landed first, which allowed me to get some comedy shots of my fellow paddlers making their way through the surf. If it’s not caught on camera, it didn’t happen!
We had several visits to Lough Neagh that month, including skills sessions at Toome, a trip to Shane’s Castle from Antrim, and an epic sailing trip in Force 4 winds and exhilarating fetch from Toome to Cranfield. In contrast, a few days later was a relaxed sunny Sunday afternoon trip with great company from Toome to Lough Beg and back. Spring was in the air!
In my ‘spare’ time, I also started sea kayaking in May! Definitely one of my favourite paddling months of 2022.
June
At the beginning of June, I completed my paddlesport leader assessment with my sister, Emily. Yet more paddling in the wind followed, with a breezy coaching session on Lough Beg. Next, a well-attended CANI recreational paddle ran from Portglenone. Still no sign of the summer, we had a very stormy sailing race at Portrush Yacht club, ably won by Gareth Mahood. Finally, as the weather improved, a group enjoyed a beautiful still evening paddle on Lough Neagh. And we managed to squeeze in a sneaky wee whitewater tandem paddle towards the end of the month. Four seasons in as many weeks!
We had a birthday trip to the Barrow River in County Kilkenny in July. It appeared to be a lovely area, but it passed me by in a blur. I can’t recall how many kilometres we covered, but it is safe to say next time Mahood mentions a challenge I am making myself scarce!
A family day at Movanagher on the River Bann was a great success, attended by over 50 people in fantastic weather. There was a club trip to the Shannon, and skills sessions continued, including Castlewellan lakes and tandem skills at Coleraine and Dundrum.
Next came another round of the Ulster Canoe Challenges- a navigation challenge on Lough Beg. This time I was prepared and brought my engine with me in the form of my 12-year-old son, Thomas.
August
Making the most of August, we enjoyed the long evenings with trips on Lough Neagh, Lough Erne and Strangford Lough, with plenty of opportunity to practice our photography skills by capturing the beautiful summer sunsets.
The club also ran busy Come and Try It sessions at the Delamont Country Park Regatta and Belfast in conjunction with Sport NI and Tollymore National Outdoor Centre.
The change of seasons in September brought the annual Ulster Canoe Festival this year at Quoile Yacht Club. We had a fun-packed weekend with lots of opportunities for development for paddlers of all levels.
Our evening paddles continued throughout the month as the days got shorter. The last one of the year was at Newferry, followed by a get-together for everyone with tea, scones and cake. An opportunity to reflect on a summer well spent.
October
Now the whitewater season could get underway! In October, we started an introductory programme for paddlers new to white water and a refresher for the rest of us! This was a successful programme, with many newer paddlers making their first forays into winter river paddling. There were sessions on the Upper Bann and the Sixmile, as well as club trips on the Maine, Braid and Kellswater.
Not forgetting the club autumn camp and the fourth and final instalment of the Ulster Canoe Challenges. This was a poling competition on the River Roe. Of course, it was highly competitive, but John Hubbucks emerged victorious in that round. The overall winner, however, still needed to be announced.
November saw our third intro to white water session on the Braid. Three club members enjoyed a weekend of white water leader training on the picturesque River Roe with coaches Elaine Alexander Shooter and Steve Smith. There were also trips on the Sixmile, and we explored a new river for us, the Clady. It was interesting but let’s say some of us won’t be rushing back!
December
December began with a large group heading to the Mourne/Strule. An opportunity for some of us to practice our new skills and others to develop their leadership techniques. The levels were low, but it was a worthwhile and enjoyable trip.
The Paddle of Light, on the evening of December 10th, brings me to the conclusion of my review. Causeway Coast Kayaking Association founded this annual event, and Ulster Canoe Club helped it return after a three-year hiatus. Over 60 paddlers gathered to outfit their canoes, kayaks and SUPs with fairy lights and other decorations before launching onto the River Bann and making their way through Coleraine. This was a charitable event; everyone donated generously, raising over £300 between us. Afterwards, we enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies and prizes were awarded to the most festive paddlers.
Congratulations to Troy Klewchuk, who was announced the winner of Ulster Canoe Challenges 2022.
It was a lovely event and a perfect way to see out the year. I hope you have enjoyed this recap of 2022, which shows how much I appreciate being part of such a positive and active club as the Ulster Canoe Club. Here’s to 2023; I hope to see you on the water soon!
