Paddlers take to waterways for first Maidenhead Canoe Club taster session

Ten new paddlers took to the Maidenhead town centre waterways on Monday as they took part in a newly-established canoe club’s first taster session.

Maidenhead Canoe Club has been set up by volunteer-run charity Friends of Maidenhead Waterways (FoMW), which maintains a side channel of the Thames known as York Stream.

The paddlers took to the waterway and had some fun trying out the boats.

They then paddled upstream to the Town Moor and back and passed a family of swans on the way.

Dominic Hurst, secretary at Maidenhead Canoe Club, said: “There has been lots of interest in joining our new club. The first taster session went well and we will be holding more in the next couple of weeks so people can try canoeing.

“If people want to join the club we will then offer a canoe and river skills course so they can learn the basics. Then people can join all our club activities, starting with club paddles on Monday evenings.”

The new club is affiliated to Paddle UK, which is the governing body of British canoeing.

The club’s future activities will include group trips led by qualified coaches along the waterway to the River Thames and onwards towards Windsor or Marlow.

Those wishing to join the new club need to be paid up members of FoMW, with membership costing £20 per year.

Currently, canoe club membership is only open to adults.

Access to paddles, boats and buoyancy aids is included in the club membership.

Another taster session will take place at 7pm on Monday, August 4 and booking in advance is required.

For information, visit: www.meetup.com/friends-of-maidenhead-waterways/