About the Club

Thameswey Canoe Club is an active and friendly club, with over 100 members ranging in age from 7 through teenagers and young adults to some of more advanced years!  All our activities are mixed-age with participation being solely on the basis of interest and ability, and include flat water trips, white water river trips, kayak surfing, open (Canadian) canoeing and sea kayak touring. We particularly welcome parents if they wish to join with their children. 

The Club was formed in 1987 with the object of promoting canoeing in all its disciplines within the Swindon area. Costs are covered by yearly membership fees and session fees paid by all members.  Thameswey Canoe Club is affiliated to the British Canoe Union (B.C.U.), and takes a responsible attitude to safety.

[Club Constitution] [Notes for Parents of Youth Members] [Membership Form]

Lake Sessions

The club runs sessions in the Cotswold Water Park (near Cirencester) on Tuesday evenings during the summer and monthly on Sundays (generally the 3rd in the month) throughout the year. Coaching in kayaks and canoes, including star tests, is available, alongside fun sessions, supervised paddles and free paddling. We use the lake at South Cerney Outdoor Education Centre, which has changing rooms, a class room and our equipment store on site.

[Find out more.]

Pool Sessions

Thameswey holds pool sessions at Milton Road in the centre of Swindon, usually on the first Sunday of each month (except August). These allow paddlers to practise their skills in a warm, safe environment using one of our pool boats or their own (clean!) boat.

[Find out more.]

River Trips

The Club aims to run two trips per month, normally on Sundays, on flat or white water rivers of various levels of difficulty around the country. The highest grade of river currently run by the club is Grade 4, "advanced white water". The club offers a range of trips, with regular whitewater trips over the winter and surfing, sea and easy river trips over the summer.

[Trips Information Sheet] [River Trip Equipment List]

Equipment

The club has a large fleet of boats stored at the lake available for hire to members on the lake or to take on river trips. The fleet includes various flat water and white water boats, several open canoes and some more specialist craft. Additional equipment including paddles, buoyancy aids, spray-decks and helmets are available for use. In addition, a smaller fleet of boats are kept exclusively for use at pool sessions.

The club also has a large canoe/kayak trailer, although we do strongly encourage people to get roof bars if they intend to come on regular trips. Members may store their own boats at the lake for a small fee.

A hired boat becomes overdue after the next opportunity for it to be returned to South Cerney, or on the next occasion when it may be needed for a club activity. For example if a boat is used for a Sunday river trip in summer, the next opportunity for it to be returned is likely to be the following Tuesday evening. If a boat is used for a Sunday river trip in winter, it may be needed for another trip on the following Sunday. Hirers may be expected to take boats to or collect them from South Cerney or other members' houses as necessary.

New Members

Thameswey has grown dramatically in the past few years and we want to make sure that we give our members the support and equipment to develop their paddling skills. In order to do this new members must first go on a two week introductory course. The course is free, but you will be asked to pay the standard session fee. These take place on selected Tuesday evenings scheduled throughout the summer. Please see the programme to find out when they are running, and contact the Training Officer to reserve your place.

If you are an experienced paddler or coach and wish to join the club, or are joining in the winter, please get in touch with the Training Officer to find out more.

Membership Fees (2009-2010)

Membership of Thameswey Canoe Club is on a rolling annual basis, meaning your membership will be valid from the date you join for 12 months. As well as all the training, equipment and activities membership of TCC entitles you to a membership card which gives a discount at a local outdoor equipment supplier.

[Membership Form]

 

 

Session Fees and Other Charges