Canoe club celebrates 50 years on the water

A Frome club that began with eight canoes and a rickety trailer is celebrating 50 years of paddling adventures and introducing generations to water sports.

Frome Canoe Club, based at the Market Yard, began in 1976 and has grown into a club offering a range of paddlesports, from recreational trips to competitive slalom kayaking.

To mark the anniversary, members attended a special evening to share stories and celebrate the club’s history.

Club member Charlotte Male said, “50 years ago, the club consisted of eight fibreglass canoes, plus paddles and life-jackets strapped to a rickety trailer and towed around the country by the club’s two founder members – Bob Hinton and Graham Warnecke. They looked for white water, slalom and adventure.”

Over the years, the club has organised trips across the British Isles and further afield to Germany and the French Alps. It has also hosted national ranking slalom events at its site in Rode since 1981.

The club has introduced young people to kayaking through its work with Scouts and local schools.

“We’ve also produced numerous canoeing instructors over the years, who have in turn introduced hundreds of people from age eight to 80+ to the world of paddlesports,” said Charlotte. “Some of whom have gone on to compete at a national level in slalom kayaking, wildwater racing, paddling as part of the British team and even winning a bronze medal in slalom.”

One highlight has been three Frome teams completing the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race, known as the ‘Canoeist’s Everest’.

Today, the club has a diverse group of paddlers training on the River Frome and welcomes both experienced paddlers and beginners.

Charlotte said, “As we look to the future, our aim is to keep paddlesports welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all. We are passionate about supporting young paddlers as they discover sport, while creating opportunities for every member to learn, develop and achieve their own goals, whatever their age or experience.”

The club meets on Tuesday evenings from 6pm at its base next to the Cheese and Grain. For more information, email info@frome-canoe-club.org.uk or visit frome-canoe-club.org.uk.

 

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