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The Canoe Association of Northern Ireland has begun a new era for the organisation with the launch of the new Paddle Northern Ireland name, brand identity and website. The new name reflects the demographics of our evolving membership and is far more inclusive. It captures more fully the breadth of paddling activity that falls under our responsibility, including kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding and paddlesport. Following consultation over the last two years with the paddling community, partners and stakeholders, the decision to become Paddle Northern Ireland was agreed by our Board, and an EGM vote of our members. Our colleagues at Paddle UK and Paddle Scotland have also changed their names and identities and Canoe Wales are in the process of making the change. The team at Paddle Northern Ireland are looking forward to this new chapter as we continue our work of supporting paddlers, clubs, coaches, providers, delivery partners and performance athletes to develop and grow in their sport. More information is available on our Paddle Northern Ireland website.
Adrian Harkin has been the owner of Inish Adventures formerly known as Just Kayak based out of Moville in Co. Donegal and has been an integral part of the paddle sports community in the northwest of the country for the past 20 years. As well as introducing many current paddlers both young and old to the sport, Adrian also ran two very successful kayaking events for many years pre-covid, Cranafest in Buncrana, an event primarily focused around white water racing, slalom, and coaching and the Inishowen Sea Kayaking Symposium. Both of these events contributed greatly to the paddle sports community on this island bringing paddlers from the north and south together regularly for their annual pilgrimage to the northwest. Both events in their own unique way managed to foster a love for the river and sea and delivered on fun, education and support in a very safe environment. Adrian was diagnosed with MND 2 years ago. As you can imagine to a committed outdoor enthusiast such as Adrian, where both his personal and work life revolved around sport and an innate love for the outdoors this came as a terrible blow. Adrian being the man that he is decided to take the illness head on and leave a legacy behind that left the research programme for a cure to Motor Neuron Disease in better shape than it was before he came to it. Taking inspiration from the previously planned big paddle round a number of years ago that was planned by Donal O’Dowd. Adrian decided that this was the appropriate final event to end his participation in the outdoor community with. With the support of a close number of friends and family we planned to pull the kayaking community together one last time to complete a circumnavigation of the island of Ireland on April 20th 2024. As if this wasn’t enough he then came up with the idea to put someone on the top of each of the highest peak in all 32 counties on the same day which is a nod to his love for the mountains The very nature of the outdoor environment that we love so much means that there is no guarantee that the weather will play ball with us on the 20th, so they have planned fall back days of April 21st, 27th and 28th to complete the challenge. The intention is to put to water everywhere that it’s safe to do so with the best chance of success on the 20th including at Adrian’s home town of Moville. However the very nature of the event and the time of year it’s taking place meant that it was impossible for this to be a mass participation event. This needed to be a very controlled event leaning heavily on a close knit community of incredibly strong and experienced peer paddlers based all around the country. Each trip leader adopting a stretch of coastline in the order of 15 NM to paddle on the day in question. The organisational team have had countless offers from paddlers wanting to get involved from right around the country. Frustratingly they have been unable to accommodate these generous offers due to the nature of the sea kayaking event. So with that in mind, Adrian, never having been someone that wanted to exclude anyone, came up with the plan for the DIY for MND part of the event. So if you want to get involved in the event on April 20th you can take to the water with your friends, family, fellow club members and paddle for MND too. Plan your own paddle on your favourite bit of water that you normally paddle on, in your favourite canoe or kayak and try and help fundraise to support Adrian’s Legacy Seat to Summit for MND.
The Irish Independent have published an article about Adrian Harkin, his diagnosis with MND and his Summit 2 Sea for MND fundraising. To view the article, click here.
Sport Northern Ireland have commissioned a team from the Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research (CAWR) at Cardiff Metropolitan University to run a project to better understand the motivations of current outdoor sport participants and the demographics of individuals participating in these sports in an aim to support the development of outdoor sport clubs. If you are interested in taking part in the project which is voluntary and includes an online anonymous survey (approx. 10-15 minutes to complete), then please use the below QR code or click here
Adrian’s Legacy: Summit 2 Sea for MND Campaign Announced to Support Research and Raise Awareness for Motor Neurone Disease
Thanks to canoeing, Jonny Young can walk again. Sport changes lives and none more so than Young’s, who in the decade since a spinal cord injury has gone from being a full-time wheelchair user to ambulant. Now he’s targeting Paris 2024 as the ‘cherry on the top’ of a truly remarkable recovery, propelled by the Paralympic Games. “Sport has given me a better quality of life than I could have imagined,” said the 38-year-old. “I have a disability for the rest of my life but I can strive to push the boundaries of what is achievable.” Read the full article here
This 29-minute presentation on offshore winds research is narrated by Darren Sherwood, who completed the research project on behalf of British Canoeing. The presentation covers why the research was carried out, how the testing was done and the recommendations to come out of it for SUP paddlers. Specific recommendations for SUP course providers, coaches, leaders and guides are included. British Canoeing’s guidance is to avoid offshore winds, the presentation covers how the research confirmed this, as well as information on what to do if caught in an offshore wind. Click the link to access the video on the British Canoeing Awarding Body website: Offshore Winds and SUP Paddlers presentation | Access or download here (britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk)
The BCAB Swimmer Safety and Rescue course is designed to provide paddlers with the key safety skills and knowledge to work as part of a water safety team where open water swimming is involved. All modules are interactive, practical sessions, discussing and using equipment, exploring and practicing the knowledge and skills of a paddler providing safety cover. Some modules are The Swimming Environment, Clothing and equipment, Supporting swimmers and more. ‘Due to the increase in popularity of open water swimming, aqua parks, and events that take place across the UK, it was so important for the Awarding Body to review its offer of training to those that provide swim safety cover from a paddlecraft. The course is mainly practical and focuses on providing safety to those taking part in organised open water swimming sessions/events. The assessment ensures that anyone that gains certification has reached the appropriate standard to cover safety as part of a team. Many thanks to the RLSS, Swim England and British Triathlon, as well as the British Canoeing Lifeguards, and specialists on the working group for their support in the development of this training course’ Lee Pooley Director of Coaching & Qualifications. The Swimmer Safety and Rescue course is a 7 1⁄2 hour programme that consists of 6 training modules and an assessment competency of which can be delivered in a day or modular over a maximum of an eight-week period that suits the participants Participants on the course need to hold as a minimum a BCAB Personal Performance Award, or equivalent skill level due to the paddling environment, and the craft control required to complete the course. The Swimmer Safety and Rescue course is available to those 16 years of age and over. The NEW Swimmer Safety and Rescue course will be available from 9th February 2024. Please note, this course will replace the existing Lifeguards SESA course. Further updates will be promoted via the British Canoeing Awarding Body website and the ‘Catch up with Coaching’ newsletter. The BCAB Swimmer Safety and Rescue course is designed to provide paddlers with the key safety skills and knowledge to work as part of a water safety team where open water swimming is involved. All modules are interactive, practical sessions, discussing and using equipment, exploring and practicing the knowledge and skills of a paddler providing safety cover. Some modules are The Swimming Environment, Clothing and equipment, Supporting swimmers and more. ‘Due to the increase in popularity of open water swimming, aqua parks, and events that take place across the UK, it was so important for the Awarding Body to review its offer of training to those that provide swim safety cover from a paddlecraft. The course is mainly practical and focuses on providing safety to those taking part in organised open water swimming sessions/events. The assessment ensures that anyone that gains certification has reached the appropriate standard to cover safety as part of a team. Many thanks to the RLSS, Swim England and British Triathlon, as well as the British Canoeing Lifeguards, and specialists on the working group for their support in the development of this training course’ Lee Pooley Director of Coaching & Qualifications