H
ayle Canoe Club
Established 1983
Affiliated to the British Canoe Union
History
Hayle Canoe Club was founded in 1983 by a number of paddlers from the area Hayle, Camborne and Redruth, plus several enthusiastic teenagers. One focus of the club always has been recreational, with several training courses for beginners and intermediates being run every season nowadays. However, competitively, the club has been hugely successful over the years in several disciplines, such as slalom, marathon racing, surfing and polo.
Below we have a detailed story about the history of the Hayle Canoe Club, written by current President and founder member, Doug Sims:
FORMATION OF HAYLE CANOE CLUB 1983
Written, and photographs provided by Doug Sims, February 2007
Every week two car loads of people travelled to Penzance Canoe Club from Redruth, Camborne, and Hayle. Some of us went to coach, others to learn. Penzance has a lovely club house with changing facilities, toilets, showers and a bar. "BUT" the water quality in Penzance Harbour at that time was not suitable for capsizing. So eight of us, Bruce Daniel, Patrick and Gerald Casely, Andrew Curnow, Tim Kitchen, Doug Sims, Nigel Buzza, and Hillary Dunn, looked into starting a club in Hayle. We would have a tidal sluice for white water and slalom practice, plus a 800 meter course for K1 and K2 racing and a good surf spot all within 15 minutes paddling distance of each other. We wanted to start a club that would cater for all the different disciplines of kayaking, and Hayle seemed to be the place to do it. Mrs Casely was instrumental in starting our fund raising efforts with her contacts with local businesses. We were on our way.
In October 1985 we printed our first newsletter. Below is a letter from our first chairman Tim Kitchen, as it gives an idea of the enthusiastic and pioneering spirit that prevailed at that time.
"Hello fellow paddlers.
When we decided to form Hayle Canoe Club, it was never imagined that we would grow at such a rate. We started with eight members meeting at Doug's on Sunday and at Penzance C.C. on Friday.
We then started looking around in Hayle for a club house and after considerable difficulty we obtained the loan, on Sundays, of a shed in J.H. Bennette's coal yard at the minimal cost of 20p per person. As you can imagine it was far from ideal. The building was used as a canteen by the coal yard staff. In one corner was a very old fashioned coal stove, which Doug used to light a couple of hours before we went paddling. It was quite warm, but the problem was trying to keep your kit off the floor while changing, as the floor was black with coal dust. The draught through some of the large holes in the shed were most uncomfortable, but it served its purpose for one winter, and saved the embarrassment of trying to change on the quay in a gale of wind and rain.
During the winter, the number of regular paddlers who without fail developed an obsession to brave all weathers dropped to about four. I remember one occasion, with a westerly gale blowing up the estuary, Doug and I were, after fifteen minutes of really hard paddling, further back than when we started.
Following an important meeting with Mrs Casely, who gave us many ideas and much encouragement, we were approached by Mr Bashforth, the C.O. of Hayle A.T.C, who suggested that we might be able to use his building on Friday nights at minimal cost. We, of course jumped at the chance and proceeded to make all the necessary arrangements. After the shed, this could be none other than heaven sent.
We had by now nearly all the facilities we needed, thanks to the initial grants from Hayle Town Council, Cornwall Youth Services and local sponsorship. We still hope one day to have our own building and this is our aim. We hope one day through increasing membership, grant aid and local support to achieve this, and further this excellent outdoor activity.
We have tried to give people, since the canoe club began, the benefit of our equipment and knowledge at minimal cost. I would like to thank all club members who have without exception given their time willingly to help in this, and making the club known throughout the county and other parts of the country.
It is your club. Please make the best of what it has to offer.”
Tim Kitchen. Founding Chairman. 1983
As you can see we started from very humble beginnings, wives and mothers were appalled at the state in which we came home. "I thought you'd been canoeing" my wife used to say, "Nah, just done a shift at Bennets coal yard".
Our move to the ATC hall was a godsend, we had boat storage right on the water, a large hall for circuit training, tea making facilities, and toilets. Our novice courses were very successful and we soon had a good membership of about 40. Slalom was the first competitive discipline that the club took part in, the reason being that this was my first love, and as I had competed at international level I knew a bit about it. Every weekend Bruce, Doug, Andrew, Tim, and anybody else who could make it would hitch up the trailer and compete nationwide. We soon gained the reputation as the club to beat. Amongst our new members were some very enthusiastic teenagers, who, once they had been taught the art of white water paddling on the sluice, were unstoppable. Jo Jones, Ryan Trewartha and Richard Sims, would be out training three to four times a week perfecting slalom moves.
This dedication and training really paid off and within three years all three of them were promoted to DIV 1. In 1988 all three were invited to represent the South West Region in the Regional finals at Llangollen in Wales. All the more impressive as two of them were still juniors. As well as our elite three in DIV 1 we also had club members in all other divisions of slalom, with up to twenty juniors regularly turning up for training on an irrigation reservoir on which we had our gates .
Success breeds success and in tandem with our slalom triumphs, we decided to start marathon racing, we amalgamated with John May at Truro to form THE TRURO AND HAYLE RACING CLUB. We had a team of over a dozen keen paddlers who were soon initiated into the arts of paddling and balancing K1-K2. We entered the South West series of Hasler races and in 1989 success again, we became South West Marathon Champions. A title we would hold for the next four years. At each of the National Hasler Finals we competed in, our lowest place was seventh, our highest was fourth, an excellent achievement for a small club from the far West of Cornwall.
In 1990 another success, we decided to enter the South West Polo league. Young fit slalom paddlers make excellent polo players, and in our first year of competition we came second to Plymouth in the finals, only beaten on goal average. A wonderful achievement for our young team, average age 17.
Reading this report you might think we did nothing but compete, however this was far from true. We did river trips, Club holidays to the Isles of Scilly and trips to St. Just in Roseland for sailing and canoeing. Also Holme Pierrepont for slalom practice, Mike Jones Rally on the Dee in North Wales, the Bitches in Wales, plus surfing and sea trips, and, we still ran novice training sessions.
The club has continued to be very successful, introducing many people of all ages to canoeing. The emphasis is now more recreational, but we still have some competitive surfers, we have two polo teams, and we have some very successful marathon paddlers. We also have a very enthusiastic play boat group. More recent years have been our most successful yet in terms of membership. This reflects the excellent coaching that we now provide, and also the people dedicated to all the mundane jobs, such as fetching and carrying, repairing, paperwork, and catering. Thank you all very much. Also in 2006 we had to move premises, from the Customs House, which we had occupied for a number of years. The new owners of Hayle Harbour Co. have moved us nearer to the beach in three large shipping containers. It remains to be seen how long we will be allowed to stay.
Over the years there have been people who have guided the club to its aims and successes. People who, with their talent, charisma, eccentricity, and hard work ethics, have been invaluable over the years. I would like to introduce some of these people who have stood out in my memory:
ANDREW CURNOW
Andrew was a founder member, he was an excellent paddler and surfer. Going paddling with Andrew was like taking out an eager puppy, his enthusiasm was infectious and spread to everyone. After his stint at Swansea University, Andrew moved back to Cornwall to start a new job in Truro. He had also been picked for the British Surf Ski team at an international event at Thurso in Scotland. On the 3 July 1987 Andrew was tragically killed in a car crash. We were all devastated. In memory of Andrew, Hayle Canoe Club, and Andrews friends, commissioned a carved memorial trophy of a canoeist paddling down a rapid. This trophy to be presented to the most improved junior paddler, or person who has contributed most to the club over a twelve month period.
BRUCE DANIEL
Bruce was another very enthusiastic founder member, and along with Andrew competed in many slaloms around the country. He took over as secretary in 1993 and did a wonderful and efficient job for the next six years. Bruce was also an excellent coach, and great company when we went away. He was a major contributor in the formation of this club. Bruce can now be seen surfing a long board, very often with three young sons behind him, a bit like an old mallard trotting down to the water.
TIM KITCHEN
Tim, founder member and first Chairman. Fearless, Funny, Flamboyant, larger than life, Infuriating, Mr Motivator, somebody you could rely on in a crisis - are just a few words to describe Tim. He had a huge influence on the formation of the club. Tim was the only one to get the RNAS Culdrose helicopter out. Not Tim's fault I might add. We had already self-rescued after being hit by some huge freak waves off Marazion beach, when a well-meaning member of the public called the coastguard. Fortunately, the crew didn't mind, as, being Sunday afternoon, "we were a bit bored", they said. They did however blow Tim's canoe into shore with the helicopter rotor blades. Tim left us to start his own business and is now very successful.
ROGER THOMAS
Roger started paddling with us soon after the club started and tried all the disciplines in canoeing. The dynamic sports of slalom and polo were not really Rogers forte, however, being a tough old chap he really enjoyed marathon racing, and sea kayaking. Roger and I had some very successful K2 results in the Hasler races. He has also been on numerous sea trips both here and abroad. However, Rogers ultimate paddling triumph, at the age of sixty five, was his completion of the Devizes to Westminster race, with paddling partner Allen Collett in a time of 27 hours non-stop, a brilliant achievement. RESPECT. This, however, was not Rogers only talent. During his time as secretary his ability to fill in grant aid forms, write to bureaucratic departments in flowery prose and persuasive tone, and spend hours on the phone cajoling people to give us the grant aid for all the equipment that we needed, and which we still have in the club. That, was priceless. It is safe to say that without Roger we would not own all the equipment we now have. The club is forever in his debt for his efforts in this respect. THANK YOU ROGER.
JEFFREY HASTINGS
Jeffrey started paddling with us soon after the club started. He was already very fit, being a member of the Black Rock tug of war team. Jeffrey soon became a very competitive paddler in both slalom and marathon, and was fearless in the surf. He was a very efficient treasurer for a number of years. In 1988/89 Jeffery passed his senior instructor exams in both sea and inland. Jeff was a mainstay of our coaching team for a number of years. When he got fed up working for SWEB, he decided to take up canoeing professionally. Jeff has now paddled, as a raft and kayak guide, in many countries around the world, notably AUSTRIA, NEPAL, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, GRAND CANYON, ROMANIA, THE ZAMBEZI and was last in the HONDURAS. A good man to have around, as our group of paddlers who paddled in Austria recently will testify. It just goes to show, if you paddle with Hayle Canoe Club the world is your oyster.
ALLEN COLLETT
It was evident that when Allen joined the club he was a pretty strong paddler, and he seemed to prefer marathon paddling. Under the watchful eyes of Jeffrey he became very competitive, and then expressed the desire to compete in the Devizes to Westminster race. "Are you mad" we said, "yes" said Allen, but I'm going to do it anyway. He persuaded one of our up-and-coming paddlers, Marcus Adams, to enter the Senior/Junior class. They completed the course in 20hrs 45mins and came fourth. Allen has now completed the D.W. five times. As well as Allen's superb record in the D.W., he was also our very efficient gear steward. He could fix anything and if he couldn't do it, he knew a man who could. Will he do the D.W. again, WATCH THIS SPACE.
RAY HELMER
In the early nineties Ray joined the club with his girlfriend, Tina. Under Jeffrey's instruction he soon became a very efficient and fearless paddler. He was keen to start coaching, and quickly gained coaching qualifications. Ray was very enthusiastic, and for a number of years he organised, motivated, guided, supervised, coached, and rescued. He was there for everybody, every club and training night, and trip.
In 1997, Ray and Tina, along with Mark Peters of Porthpean, were instrumental in setting up the Cornish Polo League, a competition that is still strongly contested. A year later, Ray and Jim Rogers from Newquay entered the D.W. Despite their lack of training they finished the race in a good time. However, their appearance at Westminster was enough to put anybody off ever doing the race, but after a good hot shower they were as good as new Well.. Nearly!.
Due to running his own business, plus suffering from a bad back, Ray has had to ease off the paddling. Hayle Canoe Club is indebted to Ray for all his hard work and enthusiasm, we would be a poorer club without his his input.
TINA DUNSTAN
Tina being Rays girl friend was as enthusiastic as him, but, in a quiet way. She soon gained coaching qualifications, and was popular with the children and new female members, who appreciated her quiet, patient, and efficient training. Tina is proficient in white water, sea kayaking, K1-K2 racing, and canoe polo. She was part of the Cornish Wreckers Team playing in Div 1 South West League, she also played for the Avon Ladies Team. In 1998 Tina and Allen Collet paddled and completed the D.W. - a brilliant effort, and the first lady member to achieve this. As well as her canoeing achievements, Tina was also our very efficient treasurer for a number of years. Tina is still coaching with us, and her coaching skills are highly appreciated by the club.
ROB AND SUE FORD
Rob and Sue joined the Club in 1994 and soon became proficient paddlers. They tried all of the disciplines in kayaking but eventually decided they enjoyed sea kayaking best.
When the posts of Secretary and Chairman became vacant Rob and Sue filled the positions. With their editorial and computer skills they made a very efficient team. During their term in office Sue was contacted by Patricia Benoit, a French doctor who was the liaison officer for a group of international paddlers, who's aim it was to paddle in beautiful bays around the world, a different one every year. 2002 was the turn of St Ives Bay. Rob and Sue were asked if they could arrange a week's sea kayaking in Cornwall for this group. This they did with huge success. The week started with a special Bay's Trophy Race, which Rob and Sue incorporated into our own West Cornwall Sea Kayak Experience.
In the evening there was a presentation at the Porthminster Hotel. Dignitaries from Penwith were present, and there was a wonderful spread of Cornish and Breton food. Every day during the week, there was a sea trip to a different area of Cornwall. This week was such a success that one very experienced German paddler declared it to be the best sea kayaking he had ever done. Rob and Sue must be commended for all the organisation they put into this.
Thanks must also go to our members who were able to turn up during the week, and to Penzance Canoe Club who also gave of their time. The publicity that ourselves and Penzance got was excellent, and many new foreign friends and contacts were made.
I must also thank Rob and Sue for organising a Club skiing holiday in Andorra. It was brilliant, and something I wished I had tried years ago. I now try to go every year.
Due to pressure of work Rob and Sue had to leave us, They are a very hard act to follow. However, our present Chairman and Secretary are doing a pretty good job. They have had probably the most difficult time what with moving premises, arranging shipping containers to house our equipment in, having meetings with rather antagonistic harbour authorities, filling in many agreement forms, as well as the normal day-to-day running of the club.
PAUL BASHFORTH
Paul was one of our founder members. As a young lad he learned to canoe with us, and entered many slaloms and events. Growing up and getting married curtailed Paul's paddling, until a few years ago, when he rejoined us, an older and wiser man. Paul is now a level 3 coach and an excellent paddler. His carpentry and D.I.Y. skills have been invaluable during our move. Paul and his wife Ruth, who also paddles, are expecting a baby. We wish them all the best, but I hope you don't disappear again, you are doing a great job.
RICHARD SIMS
Our present Chairman was also one of our founder members, and like Paul entered many slaloms and events around the country. Richard however had a flair for slalom and over the years battled his way up to Premier Division, and was among the top slalom paddlers in the country.
Richard has also been British Double Surf Ski Champion partnering Simon Lawrence from Perranporth, and he also gained a silver in the individual event. He is a DIV 2 marathon paddler and is at present training for the D.W., which barring injury he should do quite well in. He is also not a bad surfer having recently beaten the World Champion at an event in Ireland. Oh and he also plays Polo. In a nutshell if you want to know anything about any kayak discipline ask Richard. If you can find him.
This then is a very condensed history of Hayle Canoe Club. There are many other people who have been wonderfully helpful and I hope they will forgive me for for not mentioning them all. There are also some wonderful stories over the the years, enough to write a book . Maybe I can get some of our older members to cast their minds back to recall some of the wonderful trips that we have undertaken, and add to this history.
As our first Chairman said many years ago, the Club tries to give its knowledge and equipment at minimal cost, so make the most of it.
