Trentham Canoe Club (TCC)

Welcomes canoeists of all ages and abilities,  especially school and youth groups.

 

Background

Trentham Canoe Club was established in early 2006 to promote and develop canoeing in North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent on Trentham lake.

The canoe club is working with our partners in rowing and with Trentham Leisure as part of Trentham Watersports Association - a multi-sports club encompassing canoeing and rowing. This is an umbrella organisation that represents the interests of Trentham Canoe Club (including outrigger canoeing), Trentham Boat Club, Project Oarsome (junior rowing), Staffordshire University Boat Club.

Trentham Watersports Association is sponsored by Trentham Leisure.

Trentham Canoe Club is a flat-water club, based in Staffordshire on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent. With the area already well served by white water and slalom clubs, TCC focus on recreational and competitive canoeing with opportunities for children and adults of all abilities.

 

As well as the club night each Monday evening during the summer, the club provides after-school racing sessions and runs bellboating and kayaking sessions for local school and youth groups and works closely with Staffordshire Scouts.

The club also organises placid-water river trips ranging from half-day local trips to camping weekends.

The club is situated within Trentham Estate on a beautiful mile-long lake. This year Trentham Canoe Club received grants from Awards for All (a lottery grants scheme for local communities), Sports Relief, the Local Network Fund and the BCU (British Canoe Union) Junior Development Project. As as result, the club took delivery of £17,000 worth of equipment including a whole fleet of new kayaks for children, adults and those with special needs. They also received paddles, spraydecks, cagoles and even a kayaking ergo machine.

TCC shares the lake with a rowing club, Trentham Boat Club and the two clubs have joined forces, forming Trentham Watersports Association to raise the massive £310,000 needed for a new club house. The purpose-built building will serve as a clubhouse and storage facility for the canoeists and rowers and serve the local schools, scouts and community.

The bulk of the money is being provided by grants and a local scout legacy but the combined clubs spent much of 2007 raising the remainder of the funds required.

A two-day bellboat competition and regatta was held in July. Despite the atrocious weather, everyone enjoyed the day. At the end of September the club held a series of Hawaii-Five 0 style outrigger races. Three 43 foot long outrigger canoes with their crews of five paddlers plus helm raced over a 500m course.

After a successful and fun summer of fundraising,TCC have met their target and can now look forward to their new clubhouse, which should be completed by autumn 2008.

Ruth says: “Trentham Canoe Club is going form strength to strength. From nothing a few years ago, we have a lively, vibrant club with over 70 members.” She adds “We are really lucky to have the support of the Trentham Estate as the lake is a fantastic venue.”