PENDLE PADDLERS

CHAIRMANS REPORT FOR AGM MAY 2010

Introduction

The year has been all about ‘steady as you go.’  We haven’t done anything new but we have maintained a full programme of activities on the canal, river, lake and pool which I think has been appreciated and enjoyed by all concerned.

Membership

Our membership hovers around 150 down 10 on a year ago but still very respectable for a club like ours.  We never see this number on the water but that’s just as well as the canal looks pretty crowded with 30!  Our thanks to Deborah Gaskell for keeping the membership records immaculate and Debbie Miles for turning out in rain or shine to sign everyone in and take the money.

Finance

The details are contained in the Treasurer’s report.  Once again Tony Hopwood has done a splendid job keeping track of everything.

Subscriptions have been kept at the same level for four years now and no increases are planned for the coming year.

Grants and Kit

It’s been a quiet year for purchases.  We are at the stage in the boathouse where we have to throw something out if we buy anything new. We had the chance of buying some new creek boats at a good price which we took advantage of and we continue to purchase things like buoyancy aids both for very little people and very large people.

Your chairman had a go at applying for a grant and failed so the task has been handed back to Vikki who knows what she’s doing.

Terri took on the Equipment Officer’s job last time.  The idea is that she keeps track of what needs doing but that we all help out doing the actual work so if you want to have a go at doing some repairs don’t feel shy.

We did a comprehensive check on helmets, decks and cags at the beginning of the canal season and some fun was had checking if our BA’s would float with a weight attached to them.  Thanks to everyone in the work party which tidied up the site at the same time.

Peter still beavers away keeping the polo boats in one piece.

Coaching

Right now we have something like 14 active coaches which is great and is an impressive total.  However a typical evening takes four coaches minimum to handle.  Looked at this way it isn’t such a lot.  Frankly a club like ours can’t really have too many coaches and there are always people moving on in various ways whom we need to replace so we are always on the lookout for more.  Quite simply many hands make light work.  The more coaches we have the more the jobs can be spread around which makes life easier and more fun for everyone.  So if you want to have a go then pass the word.  You’ll be welcomed.

Our thanks once more to Peter who soldiers on with the thankless task of keeping us the right side of the BCU compliance requirements.

The Annual programme

The core of our programme continues to be the regular Tuesday club evenings – September through April at Wavelengths Pool the rest on the canal at Foulridge.  To maintain this year in year out as the club has done is a tribute to all concerned.

We didn’t manage any canal weekend days at either end of the season but Mike ran some river trips in the run up to Christmas.  A combination of very poor weather and not much water put paid to the programme in the New Year.

There was a good turnout as usual for the Pie and Peas at Christmas.  We managed to paddle it this time rather than walk.

The ‘once a month’ Saturday splash sessions were shifted to Colne Pool over the winter as we can’t compete with the birthday parties at Wavelengths.  One of the facts of life at Pendle Paddlers is that no two years are the same.  The novelty this year has been the number of youngsters we have been able to accommodate on the regular Tuesday Wavelengths sessions as the adult attendance has fallen off a bit.  The need for a separate kids sessions has therefore been a bit muted.  Whether this trend will continue who can say. 

Canoe polo continues to be popular amongst the fanatics on Sunday evenings at Colne pool.  Our thanks to Jon for taking over the running of this.  Attendance has been patchy so why not give it a go?  Some of our tiger players ended up helping out a regular league team and showed them how it should be done!    

Outside Groups

We ran fun/taster sessions for six outside groups during the summer on the canal which is about par for the year plus a somewhat abbreviated three evening programme as our contribution to the Pendle Festival of Sport.

We concluded a new Schools Partnership Agreement with Pendle Vale School whereby they were to send up to five students to become members with some subsidy towards costs coming from the School Sports Coordinator programme.  However the school has not been able to come up with the students.

Social

Retained by popular demand three club weekends were organised over the summer – two in the Lakes and one in Anglesey.  Our thanks to Molly for making these happen.  She has now bowed out and we welcome Andy Malone who has picked up the baton.

Website

Our site had an update during the year and Tony continues to add bits and pieces as he gets the chance.  I think it’s a very professional looking job and does us proud and is a great advert for the club.  Tony can only put stuff in if you guys out there give him write-ups and photos to play with.  So flex your journalistic and photographic skills and let’s see what you’re made of.  It doesn’t have to be much as long as it gives the rest of us a laugh.

Clubmark

We duly renewed our Clubmark accreditation a year ago.  Doubtless there will be some more bumph to fill in to keep it going for another year.

Foulridge

The Café Cargo bistro opened late last summer but the impact on the club has been less than expected.

For safety reasons we have had the trees cut down round the clubhouse which has left everything looking very bare and a bit shambolic so we will have to turn our attention to see what can be done with the site.  Nice facilities are all very well but someone has to maintain them and we find it difficult enough to muster one work party a year so our ambitions will have to be tempered with realism.

George Haisman

Chairman