Matlock Slalom
Matlock division 2 slalom, our big event of the year, scheduled for 25th – 26th March 2023, didn’t happen because the EA predicted massive water levels. We postponed the event on Friday morning but in the end the floods didn’t arrive. The good news is that we still have the event to look forward to. The new date for the race is October 21st and 22nd. Please make a note in your diary and keep the weekend free if you can. We will need help from as many club members as possible.
The River
We need to do some work on the river bed before the slalom weekend to rebuild the groynes that get washed away during high water. Can I propose Saturday 23rd September for some rock moving?
Environment Agency Works
The flood repair work at Matlock Town Bridge is finally finished and it all looks amazing. Let’s hope that the water now decides to stay in the channel and not find an alternative weak spot.
Work will be starting on the wall adjacent to the slalom course on 11th September for four weeks. They will be repointing, removing vegetation and fixing the gabions at the bottom steps. This work should not affect us but please stay vigilant. The bottom lay-by will be closed.
The Container
The club now has a new container for boat storage with a very secure lock box. Thanks to Colin and Rick for all their hard work in getting this sorted.
Beginners coaching course
This year we welcomed ten new members to join our beginner’s course on the river. They have all made great progress and six of them have continued through to the autumn.
Slalom Paddlers
Our slalom paddlers have been training hard throughout the year. Five members of last year’s beginner’s course had a go at slalom and quickly gained promotion to division 3. Last weekend Tom gained promotion to division 2 and Eadie is also very close to promotion to division 2. Well done to you all.
National Inter-clubs Slalom Championships
Last weekend nine of us attended this event and finished 5th out of 13 teams we were only 3 points off coming third!
| Club | Total Points | |
| 1 | Stafford & Stone CC A | 22 |
| 2 | Stafford & Stone CC B | 42 |
| 3 | Holme Pierrepont CC & Nottingham KC | 57 |
| 4 | Proteus CC A | 59 |
| 5 | Matlock CC | 60 |
| 6 | Viking KC | 67 |
| 7 | Lee Valley PC | 73 |
| 8 | Salisbury CC & Frome CC | 75 |
| 9 | Wyedean CC & Shepperton SCC | 77 |
| 10 | Hemel Hempstead CC | 83 |
| 11 | Break Out Canoe Unit A | 88 |
| 12 | Proteus CC B | 88 |
| 13 | Break Out Canoe Unit B | 110 |
Kayak Kids
In June we started Kayak Kids (for children aged 6 to 11) at the New Bath Outdoor Pool. The children have been learning to paddle mainly through games with a short skills session each week. The children have achieved their Paddlespower Start award. These sessions will continue for another few weeks until dark stops play! We will be starting again in the Spring so if you know of anyone who may be interested, please let them know.
Pool Sessions
If there is enough interest, we book the New Bath Pool every five weeks so members can practice their skills in calm warmish water. You are welcome to take your river boat into the pool as it will be emptied and cleaned after the session. If you want to book a pool session, please let Donna know two weeks before. The next pool session is 8/10/23. Further details here: https://matlockcanoeclub.co.uk/pool-sessions
Summer Social
This was our first summer social since covid. A few of us started the evening with a game of croquet in Whitworth Park and then we moved on for drinks and a meal at Barringtons in Darley Dale. There were 29 of us – the biggest club gathering for a long time.
The AGM
This year’s AGM will be held at the Fishpond on Sunday 19th November 2023. Please make a note in your diary. Like last year we, will have a meal followed by a short meeting and then the awards presentation.
40th Anniversary
2024 will be the 40th anniversary of Matlock Canoe Club. We are going to kick start the celebrations with a ceilidh on Saturday 17th February at Middleton-by-Wirksworth Village Hall. This event will be open to friends, family and local canoe clubs. Please put the date in your 2024 diary as soon as you get it.
There will be other events throughout the year but nothing is finalised yet.
Dates for your diary
9/9/23 + 10/9/23 Div 3/4 slalom at Marple, Manchester
16/9/23 +17/9/23 Div 3/4 slalom at Oughtibridge, Sheffield
23/9/23 River work, Matlock Bath
20/10/23 Setting the slalom course for Matlock Slalom
21/10/23 + 22/10/23 Div 2 slalom at Matlock
28/10/23 + 29/10/23 Div 3/4 slalom at Stone, Staffordshire
19/11/23 Matlock Canoe Club AGM
17/2/23 40th Anniversary Ceilidh
If you want further details of any of the above, please email me (secretarymatlockcc@gmail.com ).
See you on the water soon.
Donna.