Training

 

The club membership currently includes five British Canoe Union (BCU) qualified coaches:  

Chris Townson	Level 3	Head Coach. Can coach and assess BCU 1 - 3 Star
Paul Mullineux	Level 2	Can coach flat water skills and assess BCU 1 - 2 Star
Carl Southward	Level 2	Can coach flat water skills and assess BCU 1 - 2 Star
Steve Thomas	Level 2	Can coach flat water skills and assess BCU 1 - 2 Star
Matt Townson	Level 1	Can assist all other coaches

 

Training is carried out both in the pool and outdoors throughout the year, either on our regular Wednesday evening meets or on other trips. See our calendar page for details of the club's programme, and pool booking if you wish to book a pool session (winter only). Training can be based around basic paddling skills, safety and rescue or specific skills such as slalom practice. If you wish, you can work towards the BCU's performance awards for adults or the paddlepower scheme for under 14's.

Pool Training

Pool training is an ideal way to learn and improve the basics of canoeing such as strokes, survival and rolling. All these things are better done in the nice warm water so that it is second nature by the time you go outside in the cold. Pool sessions are held throughout the winter months at Westhoughton Leisure Centre.


Outdoor Training

The Burrs centre includes a number of ideal static and moving water environments for learning to paddle, and full use is made of these on many Wednesdays throughout the summer.

Other venues are also used for Wednesdays and weekend trips, all of which can be used purely for recreation or as a training experience.
 

 

BCU Performance awards

The club's coaches are qualified to train and assess for a number of the British Canoe Union's performance awards. Star paddle awards for adults aged 16 and over; paddlepower for junior paddlers up to the age of 14.

Safety & Rescue

Safety and rescue techniques are covered during the club's sessions, and you can be assessed for the Canoe Safety Test. In addition you may wish to attend an external course - club members often attend White Water Safety & Rescue courses at Canolfan Tryweryn, Bala.

 

 

Training venues

Maps to our main training venues can be found by following these links:

                                Burrs country park            Westhoughton Leisure Centre