This week in 1966, The Beatle’s Ticket to Ride reached #1 in the charts. Meanwhile, Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious inexplicably only managed #66. The acoustics in the Cranbrook pool are excellent, so the sing-off at the pool session this Thursday 21st May promises to be a belter.
Book here
Membership fees for the year should be paid in the Month of April please. Either in whole or by direct debit. Please ensure you have updated the amount with your bank (£105 adult, £51 junior). The new fees can be found on the membership application form attached.
Junior club starts on Tuesday 21st April. All juniors must have paid their membership fee and have Paddle UK ‘on the water’ license number ready for inspection. Paddle UK must be linked on your profile to Maidstone Canoe Club so all licenses can be verified. New consent forms will also need to be completed and returned.
So, we have moved the Wednesday paddle to 6.30 so many more of you can come along.
But, more excitingly, we are going to change this up a bit:
The 1st Wednesday of the month will be ‘Give it a go’ SUP style
The 3rd Wednesday of the month will be ‘Give it a go’ Canoe style
We will run these alongside our regular club paddles. It just means that if you fancy trying out a SUP or a Canoe then please come along. We want it to be fun and with the evening getting lovely and light we simply want all our members to have as many opportunities as possible to get out and enjoy the water.
We have a lot of courses coming up - these are specifically for our members and are intended to help all members to develop their paddling in a variety of areas.
Pool sessions - these are for anyone who wants to practice specific skills like capsizing or rolling - we urge all new paddlers to try and attend one of these sessions so you are more confident when going out on the water. It is also exceptionally useful for those looking towards whitewater events where rolling would be really useful - I believe!!! So do please check it out. Every month on the 3rd Thursday.
This is a very much sought after course and we will be providing it only once this year - - there are only two spaces left so if you are thinking about it please book asap.
For all those paddlers who may have started last year and have done a fair bit of paddling over the winter months or experienced but not done this qualification yet - please please do sign up, this may not be repeated until the end of the summer - so if you fancy signing up to the many trips and days out on the calendar best to get your Explore Award in!!:
Many paddlers make great friendship groups at the club and really want to take themselves off on a paddle of their own. This course will enable you to have the confidence to be able to do that knowing that you have the skills and capabilities to safely go out within your group. The dates may seem daunting initially but I understand that these are not set in stone and once the initial participants sign up discussions can be had to see what works best within the group - so please show an interest and sign up so we can gauge how best to deliver this module of training.
April Fact 1: legendary jazzman Count Basie died in April 1984
April Fact 2: the sun is shining and a summer of paddle adventures awaits you
April Fact 3: Count Basie wrote a tune called “April in Cranbrook” and you should listen to it here: https://youtu.be/enijgnO_UA8
April Fact 4: you haven’t practiced your rescues since Count Basie was on TV in black & white
April Fact 5: the pool session is next Thursday 16th April and you should sign up for it here: https://maidstonecanoeclub.net/events/585e5a03-1522-4b78-b65c-25b2d80fbe04/pool-session?instance=3
(Disclaimer: at least one of these isn’t actually a fact)
JC001 -T-shirts @ £15 https://printmorekentlimited.fullcollection.com/catalogue/products/JC001-awdis-cool-t-shirt
JH001 - Hoodie @ £25 https://printmorekentlimited.fullcollection.com/catalogue/products/JH001-awdis-college-hoodie
JH050 - Zipped Hoodie @ £30 https://printmorekentlimited.fullcollection.com/catalogue/products/JH050-awdis-zoodie
If you wish to purchase any of the items above please emails me:
Kathy.syplywczak24@gmail.com
Your name:
Your size:
Your preferred colour choice 1: 2:
Bank transfer correct amount to: Account Name: Maidstone Canoe Club, Sort Code: 60-60-08, Account No: 48016721
Please adjust your direct debits:
Adult £105 (£8.75 a month)
Junior £51 (£4.25 a month)
Boat £66 (£5.50 a month)
Family cap is only applicable if you have a junior in your household and they are becoming members too!! (£210)
An email will be sent to all members.
This is the first beginner course of the year and we look forward to training newcomers ready for a lifetime of safe and fun paddling. Already 4 people signed up @ 21/03/2026
This particular course is a 1 day event.
Sign up following the link to our website calendar:
https://www.maidstonecanoeclub.net/events/6f29b361-4189-457b-9d70-424e1f51c7cd/beginners-course
If you’re struggling to think of how you can join in with Comic Relief next Thursday, why not come to the pool session? You can provide the entertainment by going upside down and waiting for someone to rescue you. How we’ll laugh.
https://maidstonecanoeclub.net/events/585e5a03-1522-4b78-b65c-25b2d80fbe04/pool-session?instance=2
But first:
AGM - 20th March. Do please come along and celebrate with us a great year at MCC - all members very welcome
Then:
Open Days - please spread the word and get friends and families to come and see what at great club we have at MCC and see the huge variety we offer our members
Beginners Courses dates are available here throughout the summer months
Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday
Breakfast after Sunday Paddle - 12th April
Pool Session - 16th April (21st May & 18th June)
Walton on Thames - 18th April
Junior Club starts back on the 21st April
Grove Ferry - 9th May
Explore Award Certificate training & assessment - starts 6th May
Junior Explore award - starts 2nd June (see notes)
River Nene - Junior event - more details to follow. 5th July.
All events can be booked on the calendar, please keep an eye on the calendar as more and more events are added all the time.