Gareth ’ s assessment , Lough Erne
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 prefestival 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 .
Some newer recruits also completed their
Paddle Discover
award , and 13 paddlers in total completed the award in 2022
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 .
White water safety and rescue
Poling country ... Sometimes !
ThePADDLER 79