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Email: chairperson@sheffieldcanoeclub.co.uk
The club was formed on 15th June 1966 by members of the Canoeing and Camping club by Rodney Baker and Percy Lynsky. Darrel Lynsky went on to paddle the Grand Canyon in Colorado USA, and there were other signs that the club members took their paddling very seriously.
From club's beginnings it always had a pool session running regularly, starting in Heeley baths and then moving to Attercliffe, Park Hill then Glossop Road, Ponds Forge, then Hillsborough, where paddlers could hone their skills in the comfort of a pool.
The baths night was split into 5 sessions; red, blue, yellow, green and white, lasting 25 minutes each. One of the sessions was often canoe polo. Boats were fibre glass then and breakages were more frequent, and more spectacular. But the pool also served another important purpose.
Paddlers could find out what trips were planned and what other activities where imminent - at a time when mobile phones were not in popular use - and the activities did not restrict themselves to paddling. The Bi-monthly club news letter helped keep members informed. It was posted regularly for members to write about trips they had been on. Also the club had the calendar of events.
Celiadh and discos were organised for the members, who at one point exceeded three hundred, coach trips to canoeing exhibitions were organised and one year it was so popular two coaches were required to accommodate everyone. Our members were busy distinguishing themselves in the rivers around the world.
Over the years there has been wedding bells where couples have met at the club, just a few are Phill and Helen Hickson, Bob and Bekkie Finch and Andy and Sue Glasgow. And the club boasts some very long standing members. Mark Steel, Phill Hickson and Jim Laughton all have over 40 plus years in the club.
Many trips were organised to cater for the large numbers of paddlers in our membership, and occasionally we would have thirty paddlers on a single trip. This was before a strict ratio of paddlers-to-coaches was enforced.
In 1980 Frank Staniland was a member of the first ever expedition to paddle the AnnaPurna in Nepal. The trip is captured on YouTube AnnaPurna, raging rivers
River trips were often arranged at the baths or by phone, on a Friday or Saturday night, from local rivers to the Wharf, Dee, Swale or Derwent, Lake district and further afield. Such as Europe and further.
The club began arranging surfing and sea kayaking trips in the mid 80’s, and again our club members distinguised themselves in ’75 when Keith Maslen completed a channel crossing in a slalom boat.
Hugh Pashley (one of the clubs longest standing members) was a big sea paddler and paddled around all the Scottish islands and Greenland. Many competitive events were organised by Hugh with his trusty BBC computer often run on car batterys at the events. Hugh was also the longest standing club chairman too.
Other trips were regularly organised and Anglesey at Easter was a regular fixture, and Robin Hoods bay was the clubs birthday weekend closest to it's date of birth. Every part of britain was covered Farne Islands, the West Coast of Ireland (’77), Flamborough, and Barmouth are just a handful of the club’s destinations. The Lakes have also been a popular venue for sea kayakers, as these are possibly a less challenging paddle for a beginner.
Dave Allen, and Lyndsey Willliams, both members, practiced on the Sheffield canal by Tinsley and competed in the 1972 Slalom C2 class/ And the Sheffield club distinguised itself in every slalom event in the 80's. But novices were nurtured as well.
The club has successfully run its own Slalom from its first at Howsham weir on the Yorkshire Derwent, to its Matlock slalom Derbyshire Derwent,and then the move to our own site Oughtibridge on the River Don where two are run.
In the late 70's Mike Smith Duncan Oughton, Paul Sleaney, Rob Stubbley and Tim Lawson were in the british team for the White Water Racing events. In 1984 Mike Smith competed in the World Championships. The Club ran the national white water race at Washburn, the dam release site in North yorkshire in October until numbers dwindled.
The club also excelled at canoe polo and in ’86 we were league champions two years in a row. Through the 90s the team won some of he regional knockout tournaments even with only four men after our goal keeper was sent of for fighting. Three other club members played in the canoe polo North National league one for Trent Valley which covered the north of England who won this league a few times.
One of our members, Mark Steel organised the first Canoe Polo World Championships in 95, held in Ponds Forge, He also represented the UK in the Olympics in the rafting category.
In the 80s and 90s a number of members also took part in the national K1, K2 marathon events in all divisions and the club attended the national Hasler Final. At the end of the season, all the clubs that have earned enough points within each of the regions qualify to compete in the Hasler Final.
The club also ran its own national K1, K2 marathon for all divisions at the boat Inn Hyton on the chesterfield canal. Also the sprint regatta’s K1 K2 K4 and c1 sprint at Rother Valley country park.
The Club also took part in a dragon boat regatta at Rother valley country, wining the event after no training together before the event.
The Wednesday evening outings to Rother valley country park, Matlock, and Whirlow park pond were some of the regular mid week trips.
The club held handicap races on the Sheffield canal that would start at Broughton Lane, turning at the Victoria Quays heading west to Tinsley locks than finishing at Broughton Lane. The handicap was such that novice could win the event and often did.
In the late 80's the British canoe union was promoting women's canoe polo so a ladies team was formed with a grant to buy five polo aqua bats. They competed in the regional Yorkshire and Humberside league
Water quality on UK rivers has recently become topical, and in the club's history, members experienced issues on the Don and other local rivers. When the Don at Oughtibridge was first selected as the club's base of operations, water quality was of a poorer quality than it is today.
Paddlers knew what colour tissue was being made in the tissue factory upstream just by looking at the colour of the river water. It might be blue, green or pink depending on on the day and the demand. Also Diesel contamination was at one point so bad that the Environment agency advised against paddling or water sports generally.
After many years in the 70s 80s paddling the river Don, it was brought to the attention of the club by Ian Holmes that there was a possibility of a club house next to the river Don at Oughtibridge. This lead to some talks with British Tissues who owned the site, who were happy for us to use it after a development plan of what we would like to do on site. A few containers later we have what we have now
In the mid 90's Jim, Rob, Margaret and Ian Laughton along with Chris Hawker chairman and other members of the committee ran the club, and sea kayaking trips were organised to commemorate Rob's contribution, who alas sadly passed away at a very young age. Jim still paddles with the club and is regularly at the pool at Hillsborough Rob helped secure our base of operations at Hillsborough 2005 and Oughtibridge in ’95 and this has been a great asset to the club ever since. Holding many events a providing a outdoor base for the club.
The Club continues to be a place for friendship and community, and promotes Kayaking and canoeing, and has passed many milestones in its history from its 21st 25th 30th 40th 50th and soon 60th anniversary in 2026.
The club today would not be where it is now without the endless support of its club members and committee members past and present whose contribution has been gratefully appreciated over the years. They have worked hard behind the scenes to keep this club the way it is now. Support from any club member is always welcome and anyone is welcome to join in with the help of running the club no matter how much help they wish to offer.