Based at Abingdon Rowing Club, Abingdon, Oxford , Kingfisher Canoe Club is one of Oxford’s friendly Clubs. We have few rules and paddle for enjoyment. Kingfisher Canoe Club (KCC) is an adults only club (18 years and above) with around 70 to 80 members, most of whom are active paddlers.

Kingfisher Canoe Club (KCC) was founded in the Spring of 1974, and within 12 months had attracted a membership of 30 adults, acquired a formal constitution, affiliated to the British Canoe Union (BCU, the national governing body) and found a river-side base with the Sea Cadets at their centre in Wilsham Road. From the start, the Club was for adults and relied on its own resources – mainly annual subscriptions. The Club ran successfully from the Sea Cadet Headquarters for the next 12 years or so, organising national canoe slaloms at Abingdon weir pool, training courses to BCU standards, local and away day and weekend events for members and annual trips to Scotland and the continent. Following the sale for residential development of the Sea Cadet site by the Council in 1986/7, the Club found itself homeless and for the next four years, operated from local car parks with a canoe store at Rye Farm. Despite this obvious handicap, the Club continued to prosper and run events, courses and trips. In 1990, an understanding was reached with Abingdon Rowing Club to erect a store on their site in Wilsham Road and use their river access. KCC, as mentioned above, is a club for adults. In 1989, a club for youngsters, the Pathfinders, was founded by a few local canoeists. The two clubs have retained their individual identities and have different functions and aims. However, they work together to provide facilities for canoeing in Abingdon for people of all ages. Most of the adult instructors in the Pathfinders are individual members of KCC in their own right.

Activities.
A lot of regular paddling happens in the Abingdon/Sutton Courtenay area. Throughout the year we paddle once a week from the club hut in Abingdon, Wednesday evenings around 6.20pm in summer (late May to October) and 10am on Sundays in winter (October to May). Sunday morning paddles do occur through the summer but not as regularly. In addition to the local paddling of the Thames and its weirs and backwaters there are indoor pool sessions in winter and a number of annual trips to rivers further afield such as Dart (Devon), Dee and Usk (Wales) and also to Scotland. There are also a number of ‘ad-hoc’ trips arranged by members during the year such as canoe surfing, and trips to various rivers in Wales, Dartmoor and the Alps. A few members have paddled further afield in the Himalyias and the Americas.

Communication and social events.
All members receive a copy of KCC’s bi-monthly newsletter. It contains details of future trips, pool sessions and courses organised by members, other local paddlers and the Canoe Camping Club. It also contains contributions from members about past trips and other articles of general interest. KCC regularly meets for a social evening on the first Wednesday of every month, at a local pub. As well as the opportunity to meet members it is the best way of finding out what club activities are coming up between newsletter publications. We are currently meeting at The Fox in Steventon (GR 473917 and www.thefoxatsteventon.co.uk) at around 8.45 pm. We also hold various other social events such as the Midnight paddle in June, various BBQ’s and a meal at Christmas time.

Training.
Currently almost half the membership hold coaching qualifications from the BCU, ~10 hold the award of level 3 coach or higher and are active in the Oxfordshire Paddlesport. In addition to annual beginners’ and improvers’ courses for club members, and providing instructors for the Pathfinder Club, qualified members are involved with other groups interested in canoeing. They provide star-test training and examination for Scouts (both local troops and those in the area on summer camps) and for youth groups as well as national training and assessment courses for coaching qualification and in the swimming pool during the winter months.

Location and equipment.
The Club’s equipment store is located on the river at Army Rowing Club’s site, along the Wilsham Road in Abingdon GR 497962 Members are encouraged to acquire their own equipment (almost all members do). We hold and maintain a supply of boats and equipment, but this is primarily intended for training courses. Members may use the Club’s equipment for a small fee. In addition new attendees will be offered the use of club equipment free on the first session with a fee charged for subsequent sessions. It is expected that you will join the club after hiring equipment a further 6 times.

2010 Equipment Hire Fees:

• Members – £5
• Non-members – £10

Equipment consists of a boat, paddle, BA and spraydeck.

Note that as not all members have keys to the equipment shed it would be wise to contact either a committee member or key holder if you need to borrow any equipment. It is possible to store your boat in the hut for a fee, currently £30 per year.

Novices.
We run an annual beginners course starting in May, if this is the wrong time of year to join, or you would prefer to learn in a less structured manner, please come along to one of our regular club days where a rota instructor can assist you. You are welcome to use club equipment but you need to be prepared to get wet. Wear a swimming costume with shorts or leggings & a tee shirt in summer. In the winter months the water is very cold so a wetsuit is recommended. Always wear something on your feet. Wetsuit boots, jellybeans or trainers give good protection. Remember to bring some warm clothes to wear afterwards.

Contact and joining.
Please find the membership application form by clicking on the  link under the ‘About KCC’ menu’ on the navigation menu at the top of this page. If you wish to join please carefully read the Club’s constitution and rules on the reverse, and after filling it in send it along with your cheque to the Membership Secretary. If you require any further information please send us an email at kcc.membership@googlemail.com.