July was an exciting month for Kingston Kayak Club! Our Club Camping Weekend was a fantastic success, with 31 enthusiastic paddlers hitting the water in kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs). A huge thank you goes out to Sue Burgess for her outstanding organisation of the event, and to all our dedicated coaches and assistant coaches for leading the paddling sessions.
Despite being the first Club Weekend we can remember with wet weather, we made the most of it with multiple paddling sessions on the beautiful River Wharfe. Appletreewick proved to be an ideal location for the event, featuring a fantastic campsite right next to the river and a charming local pub, the perfect traditional Yorkshire spot with a roaring fire and excellent beers.
Day 1 Highlights: We kicked off with a skills session on the river, focusing on techniques such as edging, ferry gliding, and breaking in and out. In the afternoon, we embarked on a scenic paddle from the campsite to Bardon Bridge. This 5km stretch of the Wharfe offered exciting rapids and plenty of features to navigate. The day concluded with a communal barbecue, where we socialised and shared stories from our adventures on the river.
Day 2 Highlights: The rain continued, but so did our paddling! We divided into two groups based on experience levels. Experienced paddlers tackled the river again, while newer members honed their white water skills near the campsite, working towards the Paddle Discover Award.
Stay tuned for a YouTube video compilation of photos and videos from the weekend, coming soon. Make sure you’re subscribed to our channel: Kingston Kayak Club – YouTube.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made the weekend memorable!
