Newsletter, October 29th, 2024

What is “Clear Access, Clear Waters”?

Deva has supported this for a long time now, but what is it? It’s a campaign for “Fair, shared, sustainable open Access for all” to try and ensure the waters we paddle in are safe and clean for as long as possible. As you’ll have seen from the media reports on water companies, there is a long way to go, but things are improving and we can help. In addition to our annual litter pick, some of us have helped with the big river watch and with the removal of floating pennywort, an invasive, non-native species.

Another way you can help is by following the “Check, Clean, Dry” routine, particularly if you use your boat in multiple locations.

  • Check – Check your equipment, boat, footwear and clothing after leaving the water for mud, aquatic animals or plant material.
  • Remove anything you find and leave it at the site.
  • Clean – Clean everything thoroughly as soon as you can, paying attention to areas that are damp or hard to access. Use hot water if possible.
  • Dry – Dry everything for as long as you can before using elsewhere as some invasive plants and animals can survive for over two weeks in damp conditions.

You can read more about Clear Access, Clear Waters here.

Thank you for taking time to read this, your help is very much appreciated.

Simon L, Deva Environmental Officer.

Plans for the Dee Estuary


Over the summer Deva CC was invited to meetings with Nature England and Natural Resources Wales who are planning a joint biosecurity plan for the Dee Estuary. Their aim is to get all those who use the estuary, either for leisure or commercial purpose, to help stop the spread of invasive species already present in the river, and prevent new invaders known as ‘horizon species’ getting into our estuary.

For example, Mitten Crabs which originated in Asia are already in the Dee and if unchecked can burrow into banks which break down and impact native fish and plants.

As the initiative develops, we will look at the best way that we as a individual paddlers and the club as a whole can support the plan.


Bring A Mug Kayaking!

More environmental action… In our continued attempt to reduce single use cups and refuse, please remember to bring a mug to our regular club meetings for your post-paddle tea or
coffee.

Web Site News


Our IT manager, Mat Sefton, has been busy working on the club website and making sure it is up-to-date and easy to navigate. He is promising some new features and links, so keep checking it out at www.devecanoeclub.co.uk. The website is ‘the public face’ of Deva, and often the first point of contact for new members but is also an invaluable asset for existing members in accessing information, including the calendar. Thanks, Mat, for your time and applying your skills to this vital resource.


Welfare and Safeguarding Update


We are committed as a club to provide paddle sports for all in a positive, safe, dignified and caring way where everyone feels they can speak freely about any concerns they may have.


Our safeguarding policy was developed by Judith Lathean and David Riley. I am very grateful for the time, effort and care that they took to establish our current practice. Judith has decided to step down from this position. I am pleased to inform you that Klaire Costello has agreed to take on this important role.

Our safeguarding policy is available for all to read on the website. At present this is being reviewed and any changes recommended by Klaire and David will be updated by our Safeguarding Officers.


Safety on the Water


Paddle UK now recommended that all paddlers should know how to exit a capsized kayak safely whilst wearing a spray deck. From now on we will ask all new members to demonstrate this ability either in the pool or on the river. We will not issue spray decks to new members until they have performed a practise capsize witnessed by a coach.


In addition, we will be asking existing members to declare that they have performed a controlled capsize in the past.


Paddle UK Awards


If you are new to canoeing or kayaking you may be interested in achieving Paddle UK’s Start, Discover and Explore Awards. Alex Plant has kindly offered to assess these. If you wish to find out more, have a word with Alex.


Fashion Notes


For those who like to keep up with the latest fashion trends, our own Deva Canoe Club branded clothing is available through the link on our web site. Smart yet casual, T-shirts, polos and sweatshirts make the perfect Christmas gift for paddlers. As seen on the catwalks of Paris, London and Milan.


Peer Paddles


For those who have recently joined the club, a reminder that we have an informal Facebook page. This is a private group, so you won’t get commercials or junk messages. It is the main forum for sharing peer paddles. These are not Deva approved trips, but are undertaken at your own liability, so if you are unsure, ask the organiser if the trip is appropriate for your level of ability. If you wish to join the FB group, search for ‘Deva Kayakers and Friends’ on Facebook and request to join.
John Lewis

Newsletter, March 15th, 2024

Summer on the Way!

After a soggy winter you are probably looking forward to some pleasant spring and summer paddles and light nights. Our summer season starts on Thursday 4th April, from 5.30 p.m. From then on, we meet each week on Thursdays, and also on alternate Sunday afternoons at 1.15 p.m. Our first Sunday session of the new season is on April 7th. This year we have 30 minute longer sessions and can be on site until 4.15 p.m. The dates for you diary for the first half of the season are:

April; Thursdays; 4, 11, 18, 25 Sundays; 7, 21

May; Thurdays; 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (May 9th. Deva CC AGM)

Sundays; 5, 19

June; Thursdays; 6, 13, 20, 27

Sundays; 2, 16, 30

As far as membership goes, our prudent treasurer, Simon, has asked not to be sent payment until April when he will send out reminders.

Deva Family on TV!

Of interest to all Deva members, and especially those with children (and those with grandchildren), will be a Channel 5 programme entitled “Meet the Experts”. Each week a young person gets to demonstrate their expertise. Episode 9 of series 2 is all about kayaking, and features Idris Ellis. His dad, Deva member John Ellis, also features (in a supporting role!). During the programme Idris gets to go kayaking on the Dee in Llangollen with Darren Clarkson. You can see the 15 minute programme by signing into the catch-up service, My5 and searching for Meet the Experts, Series 2, Episode 9. Well worth watching and should be BAFTA nominated.

Change at the Top

B.C. rebranded as Paddle UK As you may be aware, British Canoeing, our governing national body, has changed its name to Paddle UK. This is to reflect the wider range of activities it covers which now includes paddleboarding, sit-on-tops, the many kayak disciplines as well as canoeing which has led to a considerable growth in its membership. More details about the name change can be found here.

Bio-Security Plan for the Dee Estuary

I have recently had the pleasure of attending a meeting with Natural England and Natural Resources Wales, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. They are in the process of writing a biosecurity plan for the Dee Estuary with the aim of controlling the problem of invasive species, both plants and animals. Seeds or eggs from invasive species can be very small and easily transferred from one body of water to another on canoes, kayaks etc or on personal kit such as shoes, clothing, PFDs etc. Several invasive species have already been detected in the Dee, and the aim of the biosecurity plan is to monitor, control and limit their spread. It also aims to be watchful for ‘horizon species’, which are not in the Dee at present but are in other UK locations and may arrive in the future. An example of an invasive creature is the mitten crab, which probably arrived in the UK in ballast water discharged from ships. It has spread to many European rivers and can cause bank erosion where it burrows and decimate native species. There are many other examples of plants and animals that are possible threats to our environment. As responsible river users we need to make sure we check, clean and dry kit after each trip. We can also record and report the location of any suspected invasive species we see when on the river. More information about species identification will be made available soon and we will pass this onto Deva members. In the meantime, CHECK- CLEAN- DRY. ‘Clear Access Clear Waters’ Work Goes On As part of our ongoing work to improve the environment of our rivers and seas, we will be organising a river clean event during the season to remove litter from the Dee. Simon Lawson is taking on the role of Club Environmental Coordinator and will be calling for volunteers and announcing details in the coming months.

Coaching and Trips

We want to widen club activity by encouraging members to run club trips. If you have an idea for a trip, then have a word with Ray McCann who will advise and help you plan it. We already have some ideas but would like to see more on the calendar. If you are interested in leading trips or coaching for the club, then also see Ray or a member of the committee. To keep the club active and lively we need coaches and leaders to help out at every level. If you would like to qualify as a club approved coach or leader, then also see Ray. Those of us who have already done so will tell you how rewarding it can be, and that leading and coaching will also improve your own paddling.

Adventures at Sea

Colin Hayward writes… The number of club members showing an interest in touring or sea kayaking has increased dramatically in recent times with the Sunday winter sessions at the riverside seeing demand for club sea kayaks regularly hitting double figures and outnumbering the white water paddlers. I would like to think this is at least partly due to the stories and photos of sea kayak trips making an impression. Since the weekly club sessions finished for the winter back in September 2023, I have personally completed 20 sea kayak journeys, many of them accompanied by various club members. These winter adventures also included the odd river or canal paddle if the weather on the coast was too rough, but whenever possible we ventured out onto the sea. I have been attending the pool sessions at Northgate right through the winter and I’ve spoken to plenty of newcomers who have expressed an interest in getting involved with sea trips this summer. The primary route to getting invited to paddle on the sea is to ask to be added to the ‘Deva B’ list or speak to myself or Bill Neary at the riverside. I’ve included a couple of photos from some of our winter paddles which may whet some appetites further.

Thanks Colin.

We are looking forward to a successful summer season paddling a variety of craft on both salt and fresh water.

Newsletter, February 17, 2024

Do you know LEFT from RIGHT?

A strange question you may say, as we all know the difference….don’t we? Maybe, but…. as a paddler on a stretch of water it’s not that obvious and there may be a time when you’ll need to know. For example, if you are paddling upstream or downstream, left and right are as you would expect and it is courteous to paddle on your right to allow approaching water users to pass on your left.

The important exception comes when one gives an instruction such as ‘River Left’ or ‘River Right’ and, for this to make any sense, you need to know which way the water is actually flowing.

For example, if you are paddling downstream with the river flow, ‘River Left’ will be on your LEFT!
If paddling upstream against the flow, ‘River Left’ will actually be on your RIGHT!
Understanding this nomenclature will help you in identifying potential no-go areas as some commercial operators (i.e. TNR at MEM) and land owners use these phrases to clearly identify private property that is ‘out of bounds’ to river users. This knowledge could also be crucial in a rescue situation.

Many of you will have paddled past this sign on the bank of the River Dee by Sandy Lane car park, perhaps made a cursory glance at it but never took any notice as to what it meant and why it was at that particular point.

The River Dee, like most waterways, has designated rescue points along its route and these signs inform the emergency services where the nearest point of vehicle access is in relation to your current position.

In this example, you are at rescue point ‘7’ on the bank and the preceding letter ‘R’ signifies the closest vehicle access point is on RIVER RIGHT.

So next time you are out paddling, please take more notice of the various signs along your journey as this apparently trivial information could help save someone’s life!

Stay safe and happy paddling

Keith Brocklehurst, Deva CC Secretary.

Newsletter, October 15th 2023

Pie’n’Peas Evening in support of the RNLI

Back in late 2019, the club made a financial donation to the RNLI. In February 2020 we received an email from Bryan Hughes, a local RNLI fundraiser, thanking us for this money and offering to come and give a talk about this organisation.
Great we thought, let’s have a Fish and Chip supper in aid of the RNLI, make it an evening event and we could also ask club member Keith Peek to come and present something about his recent Alaska adventure.
So we booked it for 19 March 2020. Then COVID hit us and everything shut down!
Finally, it all happened on Thursday 12 October 2023. Many thanks to John Lewis, for the Pie’n’Peas idea and organising everything, his wife Alex for helping in the kitchen, speakers Bryan Hughes and Keith Peek for presenting and to the 40 Deva members and friends who supported the event.
We also wish to acknowledge the support and generosity of Andy Lees from GoKayaking (NW) in Runcorn for providing the raffle prizes of a £75 G-K shop voucher, Dry Robe and Sweatshirt.
We raised a fantastic total of £395 on the evening which with a donation from club funds we are increasing to £500 which will be donated, via Bryan, to the RNLI.

Are you willing to support the RNLI by being a fundraiser?

We’ve been asked by Bryan Hughes, a local RNLI volunteer, if any of our members might be interested in joining or supporting the RNLI’s fundraising branch in Chester?
No firm commitment is needed, just a few hours every now and again. There may be some who are interested in joining their committee.
Keith Brocklehurst

Lakes Week-end Trip November 17-19th

Fancy an autumn weekend break in good company and paddling?
There are still some places left for our Lake District weekend. If you have not been before, the accommodation is warm and comfortable and there will be a variety of trips out to cater for every ability from beginner to experienced paddler in either sea kayak, canoe, or whitewater kayak. As this is a club trip members can also borrow club boats and equipment.
The price for the weekend, including breakfast, evening meal on Saturday and packed lunches for Saturday and Sunday is £70.

Congratulations!

To Judith Lathean, Ray McCann, David Draper and Bill Neary who have qualified as British Canoeing Paddlesport Leaders. The practice and training they put in preparation for the qualification, sometimes in craft they were not used to paddling, paid off and all passed the assessment weekend. Well done!

Paddler Magazine

In case you are not already aware, we had an article printed in Paddler Magazine about the club’s welfare policy and the fund raising we did earlier this year for MIND. Thanks to Judith Lathean and Mat Sefton for their initiative for highlighting this and developing our policy.

It can be read online here

Newsletter, July 21st 2023

Monday Night’s at Northgate

After many years of service our club President, Peter Cook, has decided to step down from his role at Northgate Arena on Monday nights. Peter will continue with his other presidential commitments for Deva CC at the Riverside and behind the scenes representing the club at meetings and events.

Pool kayaking provides a clean, comfortable environment for beginners to learn basic strokes and rescue techniques, and for experienced paddlers to revisit and refine their skills.

Since 1976, (yes, that’s 47 years!), Peter has encouraged and coached countless Deva members in making progress and laying the foundation for getting out onto rivers and the sea. He has also encouraged many casual pool kayakers to join Deva Canoe Club.

Pool sessions will, of course, still be available on Mondays (and Tuesdays), but Peter’s presence will be greatly missed. I am sure we all agree that he deserves to put his feet up on Monday nights. Thank you, Peter!

River Dee Assembly; Clear Waters


As a British Canoeing “Champion Club” for Clear Access Clear waters we have a commitment to work for improving water quality. We are just one of many river users who wish to see reductions in pollution levels and in particular the discharge of untreated sewage by combined outflows. There are six CSO (combined sewage outflows) locations in Chester. For much of the time they will only discharge surface rainwater, but after prolonged or heavy rain when the system cannot cope with the volume, sewage and rainwater will be released.
On Friday 14th July I attended the River Dee assembly, a forum put together by Chester MP, Sam Dixon.
Welsh Water are setting up an alert system which will appear on their web site soon and give real time information about the duration and location when discharges occur, though not volume of the discharge. In the medium and long term Welsh water are aiming to improve the infrastructure and capacity of drains, but there is no commitment to eliminate them completely.
Our local council, Cheshire West and Chester, are supporting the application by Barry Johnstone of the Chester Frosties swimming group in applying for bathing water status for the Dee. There is now a Facebook page “Clean Dee” where you can keep up with developments (or lack of them).
Despite the fact this is the middle of the bathing season (May to Sept.) the government have moved the goalposts to make it much harder for a river to be designated as a bathing water. We now must prove that on 2 days there were over 100 people swimming. Other river users (e.g., kayakers) do not count, despite the fact this is an immersion sport. Campaigns, Emails, letters, and social media petitions are all ways we can influence water companies, decision makers and politicians. I know many Deva members already do this, but I would urge everyone to make their views known and help keep up the momentum to improve our river environments.
There are also actions we can take at an individual level. Blockages in the drains can make the situation worse. Only put the 3 P’s down toilets, (pee, poo and paper), not wet wipes, sanitary products, cotton buds etc. Welsh Water have reports of fat bergs, traffic cones, underwear, and mobile phones being removed which were reducing the capacity of Chester’s drains to cope!
We can also improve the ability of drains to cope by delaying run-off after rainfall events. Installing water butts on downpipes and using permeable surfaces (not concrete) where possible on new driveways and patios are two examples of individual actions. Within the whole catchment area various groups as well as CWaC are investigating creating and reinstating wetlands which also reduce peak flows. All these ideas will become increasingly important as the frequency of storm events due to become more pronounced.

Public Safety on the River Dee


As kayakers and canoeists we are very aware that waterways and rivers can be places of danger. Whenever the temperature rises, so do the number of casual swimmers and people unaware of factors such as cold water shock, panic, and entrapment on underwater objects.
The Dee assembly gave me the opportunity to talk to Vanessa Griffiths, responsible for river safety for CWaC, to discuss the possible installation of public throwlines along the river bank with basic instruction boards instead of the current infrequently placed life buoys which are difficult to use effectively and are often misused.
Our background in safety and rescue puts us in a useful position to help advise with aspects of keeping the wider community safe on or near the water.

Improved Access and Egress to the Weir


I have also started a conversation with Vanessa Griffiths the state of the egress steps by the Old Dee Bridge below the weir. She shares our concerns that these have become dilapidated and has agreed to assess the site and discuss ideas. Earl days, but hopefully we can work together to renovate or replace the steps and improve access and egress.

Welcome Team


At Deva Canoe Club we aim to be a safe and welcoming place for newcomers, including people who have no previous experience of paddlesports. We achieve this by having a dedicated team of individuals who make up our ‘welcome team’ at every club meeting.
As we are now in the middle of the summer season, a huge THANK YOU to all who help with administration, kitting out and coaching at the Riverside. Your commitment and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated and help us to achieve this aim.
If you are interested in becoming a team member and can contribute to the running of club meetings, please have a word with me or any member of the committee.


Training and Trips


Some of our members have recently completed training to start their journey into coaching and leading. Others have also taken or renewed Outdoor First Aid qualifications. Congratulations to all involved, and thanks to Ray McCann for organising them.
Thanks also to Colin Hayward for running a series of safety sessions at Colwyn Bay for sea kayakers. Introducing and improving techniques, using equipment, and building an awareness of safety at sea build confidence and abilities which enable participants to take on more challenging trips in the future.

John Lewis,
Chair, Deva CC

Newsletter February 18, 2023

We Are Champions!

In recognition of Deva Canoe Club’s environmental policy, we have been awarded Champion Club status by British Canoeing. We support the national Clear Access Clear Waters campaign, and during the coming season, we will organise river clean events.


In addition, we will continue to lobby Welsh Water to improve the water quality of the River Dee by reducing the volume and frequency of sewage discharges from combined outflows.


There are other opportunities for us to help with, such as supporting British Canoeing days to clear invasive species such as Pennywort from local waterways.


We will also seek support from local politicians and other river users.


If you have not already done so, you may wish to download the app ‘Safer Seas and Rivers Service’ which provides information and alerts for sewage discharges. This service is provided by Surfers Against Sewage.


In addition, we will investigate ways in which we can improve access to the Dee and other waterways. Please support your club policy, there will be lots of opportunities for club members to volunteer to improve our paddling environment and help justify our designation as a Champion Club.


We will be having an official launch at the club to celebrate this award, the arrangements are still to be finalised.

Pennywort Clearance on the R. Weaver

Pennywort is an invasive plant that spreads very rapidly and can choke waterways making the difficult to navigate and reducing native plants and animals. There is an opportunity to help clearing the R. Weaver in Winsford on Saturday 25th Feb. To volunteer please follow this link.

Club Meetings and Trips

Our regular club meetings continue fortnightly on Sundays, however there is a rowing event on March 12th and the Riverside Centre is not available. As a substitute we have requested access at the usual time on Sunday March 19th, reverting again to our normal pattern a week later on March 26th. Please add March 19th to your calendar in place of March 12th.

Club approved trips are being planned and will be announced to members via email. Ideas and plans for trips are very welcome. If you have a trip you would like to lead or would like to suggest, then have a word with our safety officer, Ray McCann, or put it in an email to him using the club email address.
Peer group paddles, for which the club has no responsibility, can be posted on the Deva Kayakers Facebook page.

Get Well Soon!

As you may be aware, our club treasurer, Simon has recently undergone surgery and will not be paddling for a while. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
In the meantime, Keith Brocklehurst has taken on the role of temporary treasurer. This is in addition to his secretarial duties. Many thanks, Keith for this additional commitment.


We also send our best wishes to Rosie Diver who is also not able to paddle at present. I’m sure both Rosie and Simon will be desperate to get back to normal as soon as they are able to.

Staying safe on and off the water

It is important to keep our club policies up to date, and I am very grateful to every committee member for the work they do.


In particular Judith Lathaen and David Riley have reviewed and put in place our safeguarding and welfare policies and have recently developed user friendly versions regarding reporting and whistleblowing. These are displayed in the Deva bay at the club and will be put on the club web site.


Ray McCann has reviewed our club policy on coaching, safety and trips.


We are very fortunate to have a dedicated team of people willing to take on duties and put in the time to ensure the club is run effectively for the benefit of its members.

Newsletter, October 2022

Action on Pollution and Water Quality


Anyone regularly involved in paddle sports either on rivers, lakes, canals or at coastal locations will be aware of the polluted state of many waterways. Plastic and general detritus are the obvious signs, as evidenced by the volume and variety of objects retrieved from our river clean events organised by Steve Cartney. Paddlers are also aware that on many occasions water quality is compromised by pollution
from sewage, agricultural run-off and some industries. For many years rivers have been used as convenient drains. As a club we are especially concerned with the risks to health posed by raw sewage outflows into the Dee potentially raising the levels of bacteria harmful to human health. The sewerage system in many older parts of towns and villages (pre-1970’s in general) is linked to the rainwater system. When rainfall events occur the combined drains cannot cope and to prevent sewage backing up and flooding streets and homes some is released into our rivers. This is supposed to happen in ‘exceptional circumstances’ according to the Environment Agency, but in Chester a rainfall event of 4-5 mm is often enough to result in combined sewer outflows releasing sewage into the Dee. (4-5 mm may fall as heavy rain, but hardly an exceptional event in North-West England!).


Who Is Responsible?


Discharges into rivers are the responsibility of water companies, in the case of the Dee this is Welsh Water. Their work is monitored by the Environment Agency, an industry regulator, in England and Natural Resources Wales in Wales. When they expect outflows containing sewage will be released they inform Surfers Against Sewage.


Safer Seas and Rivers App


Surfers Against Sewage put all their reports onto an app. It can be downloaded and opened on your phone. Search in your app store for ‘ Safer Seas and Rivers Service’ or click the links below. You can then see where spillages occur and see the history of a location.


What is Deva Canoe Club doing?


Recent publicity prompted reaction in the local press. On behalf of the club I wrote to Louse Gittins(Chair of CWaC), Chris Matheson (MP), Jamie Christon (CEO Chester Zoo) and Katrin Kerr (Chair, Chester BID) expressing our support for their public statements calling for river quality improvements. I also forwarded copies to as many other clubs and groups involved with water sports on the Dee.

As a result I was invited to take part in two online meetings. The first set up by Katrina Kerr was with Steve Wilson who is responsible for drainage and sewage for Welsh Water. He proved to be very open, and conceded that there is much to do and that the Dee should be a priority. The second meeting was for a Water Pollution Task Group set up by our local authority (Cheshire West and Chester). Councillors and council officials wanted to take evidence and hear the opinions of environmental interest groups and river users. I found it reassuring that our elected representatives have major concerns and wish to see action to improve river quality. I have listed the future actions we at Deva would like to see below.


Our Vision and Ideas for making Progress


To achieve a cleaner, healthier environment.
To achieve bathing water status representation has to be made to central government. Currently 2 local authorities, one on the R. Tamar and a council in Oxfordshire are aiming to get waterways designated as bathing waters.
This requires surveys and counts of river users to justify that a designation is desirable. In the meantime we would like to see;

  • Improved data collection and dissemination by Welsh Water. Currently sewage spills are reported, but with no indication of severity, volume etc.
  • Setting of ambitious targets by WW to reduce the number of overspills year on year
  • Infrastructure improvements to achieve these targets
  • Awareness raising in the general population and work with other stakeholders (e.g.
  • land owners and industry) to improve water quality
  • Co-ordinating interest groups to achieve further improvements and a cleaner river, e.g. plastic pollution, removing invasive species etc.
  • Information sharing and co-ordination with organisations like The Welsh Dee Trust, Surfers Against Sewage, British Canoeing, etc to become part of the wider national movement
  • Supporting schemes such as wetland restoration to slow down run-off and infiltration rates, and discouraging laying of impermeable surfaces which increase run-off rates
  • Raising awareness in the general public of the problem

News Letter August 14th 2022

Successfull Bid

I am pleased to announce that we have been successful in making a bid for a bursary from our national governing body, British Canoeing, The bursary scheme targets leadership and coaching. We will now be able to run some training courses at a subsidised rate.

Getting Into Coaching and Leadership

Leading trips and coaching new paddlers can be a very rewarding experience. Seeing new members from all walks of life make rapid progress, encouraging people to become safe, independent paddlers, and fostering a love for adventure and the natural environment give leaders and coaches a great sense of worth.

In the next 12 months we are planning to run Paddlesport Leader Award training and assessment for 6 active members.

Every club relies on volunteers, and I hope you will consider training to become part of the club coaching team.

You do not need to be an expert on ‘gnarly’ grade 5 whitewater to become a coach or leader! At the higher levels, most paddlers learn from challenging themselves in peer groups and possibly using professional coaches. For beginners and intermediate paddlers we need people who can coach or assist a coach at the Riverside Centre and possibly, but not necessarily, plan touring trips on sheltered water. The club can offer mentoring and guidance to support new coaches and leaders.

Is It For Me?

YES! If….

  • If you want to get into coaching and need to take the first step…or..
  • If you are already a Deva Club approved coach, but have no formal qualification, this is an opportunity for you to gain a British Canoeing qualification….or…
  • If you enjoy sharing your love of paddlesports with others…or..
  • If you have some personal skills and experience but feel you don’t know enough about safety and assessing risk.
  • It’s open to all paddlesport disciplines. Your preferred craft could be kayak, sea kayak, canoe, SUP, sit-on-top, or a mix of the above!

Need More Info?

We are hoping to get a group of about six to undergo training for British Canoeing’s Paddlesport Leader Award. For full details go to: https://paddlesuptraining.com/courses/paddlesport-leader-course/

Are there any prerequisites?

No- though for the award you do need to be a member of British Canoeing to qualify, and will need to hold a First Aid qualification if you don’t already have one.

What is the time commitment?

Training will be locally based taking 2 days, (probably over a weekend), and assessment will be either one or two days, depending on the provider. We aim to run both training and assessment during the next 12 months.

How much will it cost me?

As we will be employing a professional provider for the course and assessment, we are asking participants for £50 for the training week-end and £50 for an assessment week-end. This is heavily subsidised as you will be aware if you have done any courses or days with a professional coach. However, we do not wish to exclude any Deva member, so have word with Ray McCann or Simon Carver (treasurer) if your personal financial circumstances would prevent you from putting your name forward.

What’s the Catch?

There is none! You will have a great experience learning from a professional, and be able to help others start their journey into paddle sports. In return the club will expect you to put your new skills into practice by either coaching or helping at the Riverside, or planning and leading trips.

Next Steps…

Ray McCann (Deva Coaching Co-Ordinator) is in conversation with some local training providers to sort out dates. In the meantime, you can register an interest (without obligation) with Ray by sending an email to the club email address.

Important announcement regarding Thursday evenings at the Riverside Centre

Thank you to all who were present last Thursday and the way in which everyone helped us to be off site by our allocated time of 20:30.
Due to ongoing site issues we would appreciate, with immediate effect and until the end of September, if you come off the water in sufficient time, but no later than 

20:00 please, to allow us all to lock-up and be away on time.
We hope to be able to negotiate a longer session for next year’s Thursday nights.

Thank you for your support.


Happy paddling


Deva CC Officers.

Important announcement regarding Sunday afternoons at the Riverside Centre

On our Sunday afternoon paddles at the Riverside Centre, we are required to completely vacate the site by 15:30 as another club is scheduled to use it shortly after.
It would be appreciated that you come off the water in sufficient time, but no later than 15:00 please, to allow us all to lock-up and be away on time.
Apologies for the short session time, we hope to be able to negotiate a longer session after September.


Thank you for your support.


Happy paddling


Deva CC Officers.

It shouldn’t be in the Dee: Sewage pollution

We have been contacted by the Welsh Dee Trust, an environmental charity caring for the River Dee asking us to share their upcoming sewage pollution workshop with you:

https://www.welshdeetrust.com/online-workshop-it-shouldnt-be-in-the-dee-sewage-pollution-11-april-7pm/.

It’s a topic that affects all paddlers on the Dee, so may well be of interest to you. Unfortunately for those who attend Northgate pool sessions on Mondays there is a clash as I imagine it will overlap with travel and changing time, but it would be good if other members were informed about the Trust’s work.

If you follow the above link you can register for the event for free.

Northgate Arena Pool Kayaking Sessions

Northgate Arena Pool Kayaking Sessions

As you may be aware kayak sessions are recommencing on Monday nights at Northgate Arena, albeit in a limited way to begin with. Please note that these sessions are run by Brio Leisure, not Deva Canoe Club. The club provides free coaching. Policies and prices are set by Brio.
At present there are no Tuesday sessions as there were pre-Covid, though these may restart in the future.


Notes For New Members


Monday sessions run from 8.00-9.00 p.m. after swimming finishes. All equipment is provided (kayaks and paddles) you are not allowed to bring in your own boat or paddle. All you need to bring is swim wear, a t-shirt or rash vest and towel. The sessions are held in the main pool and to get onto the water without delay we ask those attending to meet changed and ready on the poolside for 7.45.


To All Members


There is now a limit on attendance, the maximum allowed is 18. The sessions are not exclusively for Deva members and are open to the general public. I am told you can book online through the Brio web site and you do not need to have Brio membership to do so. You can also pay at the desk on the night, but if there are 18 people already booked in you will be refused entry.
Due to coach availability Deva CC can only provide limited coaching for the next two weeks.
Deva members can access a discount on the price of entry with a signed form, existing discount card holders can use them, but new discount cards will not be available for next week.


Prices


Deva CC holds the view that the cost of pool sessions for one hour is high (compared for example to swimming sessions). We are aware that the pricing policy will restrict access to those of limited finances and may deter people who just want a try-it-out session. We will continue to lobby Brio for lower prices or at least for limited future price rises. As stated before policies and prices are set by Brio, not Deva CC.


Sunday Sessions at the Riverside


Finally a reminder that Thursday evening paddles from the Riverside have now finished until they resume next spring. Our Sunday meetings are fortnightly starting this Sunday (10th Oct) at 1.00 p.m.

Kim’s year of challenges

Kim’s year of challenges

Kim Hanbury contacted Deva CC about her fundraising challenge in memory of her father, next Wednesday, 22nd Sept, Kim and John Lewis will paddle from Farndon to Chester Weir and back to Sandy Lane, launching in Farndon at 10.00 a.m.

Back in January I decided to take the year to raise money for Darent Valley Hospital who have cared for my Dad for the past 5 years. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer and throughout the 5 years and 54 rounds of chemotherapy, the staff who cared for him were incredible. They’re heroes of another level. My family and I were constantly blown away by the efforts they went to in caring for him and trying to prolong his life. Each month I have done something new and different and challenged myself to new heights – from cycling 150 kms in one day, to rowing a marathon and hiking Hadrian’s Wall – I have managed to so far raise just over £4,000.Unfortunately, my Dad lost his battle in June of this year but together with my family – we decided to keep the challenges going to see the year out, and continue to try and raise as much as we can for this incredible hospital.It would have been his 68th birthday on September 22nd, so I saw it only fitting to paddle 22kms on the river. ’22 for 22′. My Dad loved rivers so it seems like the right challenge to do for this month. If anyone from the club wants to join in on the challenge – please do come along!

Kim Hanbury

If you wish to sponsor Kim then please click here to visit her JustGiving page

Newsletter, September 11th, 2021

Newsletter, September 11th, 2021

Stop-Start at the Riverside

September has been a rather frustrating month for Deva CC. After all the disruption of the last 18 months we were getting back to something like normal when many of our Riverside sessions were cancelled. There have been two causes; the rowing club informed us at short notice of two Sunday events which meant we could not get onto the site, and secondly, we were given short notice by the site administrator that the concrete apron in front of the boat bays was being replaced. Unfortunately, this work went on for much longer than we were led to believe, a shortage of materials and replacement of a broken pipe were given as reasons for the delay.

I understand the disappointment and frustration this may have caused members which I can assure you is shared by the club officers.

In the long term, and hopefully to minimise disruption we have asked for an active user group to be set up so that we are given advanced notice of changes to bookings and can plan accordingly.

We have been told that the pontoon will be repaired or replaced ‘sometime in October’. We hope this will not mean further cancelled sessions. Our Thursday evening meetings will have finished by then, but we will still be meeting fortnightly on Sunday afternoons throughout the winter.

Trips Resumed

On a much more positive note, we have run several trips since re-opening including sea trips in the Conwy estuary, a paddle to Hilbre Island, and Llandudno to Colwyn Bay and back. We have had an introduction to white water day at Mile End Mill and a tour on the Trent in Staffordshire.

Later this month we have another Mile End Mill session and in November our Lake District Weekend.

We are always open to ideas for paddling trips. If you would like to get into leading club trips, then have a word with one of the officers. Similarly, if you would like to help coaching beginners, or just assisting a coach to see what its like then make yourself known.

As well as official club trips I know there has been lots of peer group activity, please continue to use the ‘Deva Kayakers and Friends’ Facebook page to promote these.

Russell Cleans Up!

As you may have seen on our Facebook page, Russell Allmand collected several bags of litter from the Dee in Chester one evening recently- most of it plastic by the look of it. Thanks Russell, it seems like a never-ending task, but every plastic bottle removed and recycled means one less in the ocean.

Thank You

Finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to all the leaders, coaches, assistants, and to my fellow officers who have continued to contribute to the day-to-day running of the club during a time of growth in membership whilst coping with some challenging circumstances.

Photo Competition

Photo Competition

For something different in 2021 we are holding a photo competition and Deva’s chief paparazzi, Terry Hudson, has kindly offered to judge it.
Photos must be of a Deva event in 2021 and reflect the paddling activities we do.

Peter Cook (Club President) has already submitted one photo of a soggy Secretary but thankfully, as a club officer, he can’t be judged!
Peter’s caption was “Nobody told me this was a wet sport”

There’s no prize but the one judged to best represent Deva’s activities will be used on the front page of our 2021/2022 annual report published in April 2022. Five runners-up will be posted on Facebook and there will be a ‘like’ vote to select the ‘members choice’ to be displayed on our FB page.

The rules are:

  • No more than 2 photos per member
  • must be your own work
  • Must of been taken in 2021
  • Must be in Landscape
  • No photoshop work please!

Feel free to include a caption too.

All pictures will be displayed on our website and the closing date will be 31 November 2021 (after our Lakes weekend).

By submitting your photo(s) you give permission for them to be used by Deva CC, displayed on the Deva CC website and be named in the annual report.
We are conscious that other club members could be seen in these shots and you have our assurance that you will not be identified.
Please submit all photos by attaching in a reply to the email regarding the competition.

Happy snapping!

Newsletter, July 6th 2021

Newsletter, July 6th 2021

What SUP Deva?

Have you tried Stand Up Paddleboarding? Thanks to Rosie Diver Deva members are being offered the chance to learn from the best.

Jess Philip is a qualified white water SUP coach with years of experience in all forms of paddle sports coaching. She is a world class kayaker, and one of the UK’s leading SUP coaches. Currently she is a #shepaddles ambassador for British Canoeing and the female lead for the Scottish Canoe Association’s equality group.

SUP is her recent focus in paddling (Oh my word you should see her tackle huge water in a kayak!) where she has been working on pushing what rivers can be successfully paddled on a SUP and the best coaching practices for river SUP skills.  

This is a rare opportunity to work with Jess as she is based in Scotland & doesn’t come this far south to coach very often.

Jess will be running two 3 hour sessions in Chester on Thursday July 22nd

Beginners session – introduction to SUP  – for total newbies to SUP. 9-12. Meet at Sandy Lane Car Park & slipway.   £40 for the session, includes SUP and paddle, wetsuit and buoyancy aid as well as instruction.

For those who are ready to try a bit more excitement, SUP intro to moving water session, 22 July. 1-4:30 Again Meet Sandy Lane Car Park. £40 for the session includes SUP, paddle, wetsuit hire, buoyancy aid and helmet.

For these sessions, please contact Rosie at  who will get folks booked on.

Jess is also happy to bring her boards along to our club night on the same evening and is offering a “come and try” session. This will be a much shorter session, and we are asking members who wish to take part pay £10 weekly subs instead of your usual £3. For the club session please let me know either by email or on Thursday night.

Help clean up our river and reduce pollution

Help clean up our river and reduce pollution

Postponed until 3rd June due to high river levels

On Thursday 20th May we are holding a river clean-up during our evening meeting.

As water sports enthusiasts we are all aware of how litter, and particularly plastic pollution, can detract from a day out on the water and also its negative impact on the environment and wildlife, and anything in our rivers will end up in the sea or on beaches.

A week on Thursday we are joining in with the Surfers Against Sewage national Million Mile Clean campaign by picking up litter from the Dee in Chester.
Our meeting will run as normal, but we are looking for 10-20 people to collect litter that they see. it is probably easier to do this from an open canoe, SUP or sea kayak, but there’s no reason why a short kayak could not accompany a canoe and work as a pair.

We have some protective gloves and reusable collection sacks, but if you have a litter grabber and your own thich gloves please bring them.

We will brief those taking part on the night, but note that we will not be asking people to pick up any hazardous material, or collect litter that is trapped in hazardous locations. If the weather is unsuitable or river flow is high and flowing quickly we will postpone the litter pick to a day when conditions are better.

You do not have to sign up for this, but to help planning please let me know this Thursday if you want to help out, or reply to this email.

As well as cleaning a section of the River Dee we hope our actions will highlight the problem of litter and plastic pollution to the local community.

See the attached flyer. Happy Paddling!

John L

[wpdm_package id=’1294′]

Development Planning for the Future

Development Planning for the Future

8 Strategic Targets for a five year plan

During the period of lock-down in the 2021 Covid pandemic, the officers of the club agreed to develop a strategic plan to promote Deva CC to renew and encourage policies which will ensure long term security and survival. In a changing world where many things, including paddle sports are evolving, we need to stay relevant to the needs of the paddlers and engage with the local community.
Here is a summary of the Deva Development Plan, and the means by which we can measure success:

  1. Increase participation and membership.
    The number of members dropped during the close down, we aim to recover to pre-pandemic levels by holding taster days, resuming pool kayaking sessions, and recruiting new members.
    Evidence for this will be in our membership records and age profile.
  2. Strengthen Community Links.
    Strengthen the relevance of Deva to the local community and make clear our value as an asset in improving physical and mental health. We will investigate the possibility of links with NHS mental health initiatives. Community action can also involve supporting charities and other events (e.g. Dee Mile Swim) and holding river clean events.
    The annual report and calendar will be used as evidence to assess progress.
  3. Further Develop Communications.
    Raise the club profile with the members and general public through the media. The re-designed Deva web site is a much improved asset. We now wish to use social media and community notice boards to inform the wider community of our activities.
    Evidence can be the number of reports of Deva’s activities and number of web site hits.
  4. Grow the leadership and coaching team
    To achieve our aims and ensure long-term survival Deva needs coaches and committee members. We need to identify those willing to join the Welcome Team to help beginners at club Riverside sessions. We also need to encourage those who wish to get into coaching and leading on rivers or sea. To achieve this we can promote personal awards and coaching courses (both internal club courses and external BC approved courses).
    Evidence will be the number of active coaches and leaders and a succession of members on the Welcome Team and committee.
  5. Support New and Intermediate Paddlers
    We feel there is a need to hold more ‘touring’ events on lakes, canals etc suitable for a mixture of craft (“cakes and lakes” to quote one member) as well as whitewater trips. A local “Where to Paddle” page on the web site for members would be helpful.
    To achieve this we will need more trip proposals and trip leaders.
    Success will be judged on the variety recorded on the club calendar and number of peer group paddles as well as official club trips.
  6. Increase Diversity
    The profile of the club is currently skewed with more males than females, and an increasing average age. There are new trends in paddlesports which if we encourage will appeal to a wider section of the population and diversify our membership, for example SUP and SOT. We also wish to organise “She Paddles” events. To achieve this we need “She Paddles” organisers.
    Evidenced by a She Paddles event, increase in % female members, and greater diversity of craft.
  7. Work towards greater sustainability and environmental responsibility
    Our sport immerses us in our immediate environment (sometimes literally!), we wish to see clean, healthy rivers and seas and also to act in socially responsible ways to eliminate waste and pollution. Use of single use plastic cups at Riverside meetings should be discontinued when the current stock are used up. The club should support campaigns to reduce litter and pollution of the Dee. Pressure can be brought to bare on water authorities and government agencies and departments to stop sewage discharges into the river, and work towards designating the Dee in Chester bathing water. We should seek to engage with other river users, e.g. Tri-club, swimming club, SAS etc.. Appointment of an Environmental Co-ordinator would help drive this forward.
    Progress will be measured in water quality statistics, and events logged on the calendar.
  8. Secure our place at the Riverside Centre and work to help improving facilities.
    The Riverside Centre is in need of refurbishment or renewal. We need to negotiate and work with Cheshire West and Chester (the site owners) and Queens Park School (who manage the site) to negotiate licences to continue our tenancy. We also wish to contribute towards plans to improve the centre building and facilities.
    Progress on this can be reviewed in the annual report.

How can we achieve our aims? (The really important bit!)
To achieve our aims we need two things;
1. That the members agree with the aims and buy into the plans
2. Members are willing to take on roles and help out with the work needed.
This does not mean we need meetings and committee work, many of the tasks are practical and specific. We will need action not words!
Please re-read the aims again. Is there an area you are interested in or would be willing to work on? If we organise action days (for example, a river clean) would you be willing to help out? Please feel free to discuss the aims with me or any of the club’s officers. If you think there are other aims we should include over the next 5 years then let us know.
We will report back on the progress we have made each year in the annual report and at the AGM.
John Lewis, Deva CC Chair

Return To Paddling!

Return To Paddling!

And now for some good news… we are restarting weekly club activities on Thursday evenings on  April 1st at 6.00p.m., and fortnightly meetings on Sunday April 11th at 1.00p.m. We will be following the advice from British Canoeing to make sessions as Covid safe as we can.

This means we will not be able to access the changing rooms, so please arrive changed and keep a change of clothes in your car. Please leave a contact number when signing in for track and trace, and if you use club equipment clean touch points at the end of the session. Hand sanitiser will also be available. We will not be able to provide tea and coffee, so bring your own. Aim to get onto the water promptly to avoid gathering in groups in front of the Centre and on the jetty.

At present the ‘stay local’ rules still apply so we will not be organising any trips that involve travel out of the area.

Taking it easy…

We are aware that many members may not have done much canoeing or kayaking this year, so we urge a gentle return to the water. Even the most experienced paddlers can become ‘rusty’, so spend the initial sessions re-building your fitness and skills. We don’t want to be burdening the NHS with sprains and strains caused by over exertion. For new and inexperienced paddlers, please don’t take unnecessary risks. Stay within your ability zone until you are ready to tackle more challenging situations.

Fundraising for a Defibrillator at Mile End Mill. 

Public Access Defibrillators save lives and a fundraising campaign has been started to purchase one for the Mile End Mill whitewater site at Llangollen.  This will have 24/7 access, so can be used by anyone at any time, even when TNR’s site buildings are closed.  Once the fundraising target is reached the defibrillator will therefore be a great asset to all users of the river and also to the local community.

The Mile End Mill site is used regularly by Deva club members both as individuals and for club activities, so it would be great if we can support this fundraising campaign.

We will be making a donation from club funds towards this, but we are also asking members to support this with individual donations. To give directly to the appeal please follow this link
Fundraiser by Tom Robinson : Public access AED at Mile End Mill (gofundme.com).

Thanks to David Riley and Alan Reay for alerting us to this appeal.

Many Happy Returns to Paddling! Deva Canoe Club.

News Letter January 12th 2021

News Letter January 12th 2021

Happy New Year to all!

So, here we are again in lock-down with club meetings and trips suspended. You probably are aware of what you can and cannot do. However here is a reminder of how to stay safe and to help protect others. Deva members are asked to abide by the following information which is taken from the British Canoeing web site;


Paddling for exercise is permitted within the government measures, so long as you are: 

  • By yourself
  • with the people you live with 
  • with your support bubble (if you’re legally permitted to form one) 
  • in a childcare bubble where providing childcare 
  • when on your own, with one person from another household while following social distancing.

Staying Safe

At this time of national lockdown British Canoeing encourages all of our members to paddle responsibly and follow the government guidelines at all times, when paddling for exercise.

Our priority remains to protect the health of our members and the paddlesport community, to help to suppress the spread of the COVID-19 virus. 

We fully advocate staying safe on the water particularly during the winter months.

Individual paddlers should restrict their paddlesport activities to environments which are well within their capabilities, alert friends and family to their activity and predicted return times, and ensure they have a means to call for help with them at all times.Paddlers should be fully prepared for winter conditions. A guide to staying safe during winter paddling is available on the British Canoeing Go Paddling website.

The advice from British Canoeing about covid restrictions applies to England. Members who live in Wales are of course under different regulations as specified by the Welsh Assembly. Regulations about exercise outdoors for Welsh members can be found here.


Club Committee and Annual General Meeting

Due to the pandemic restrictions we have taken the decision not to hold face-to-face meetings. Officers’ and committee meetings will be held by Zoom if and when they are needed. We have decided to postpone the AGM which is usually in early April (yes, I know it’s a highlight of your year). However, our club secretary, Keith, is burning the midnight oil compiling the annual report which will email out for your consideration, we will then invite comments and questions to officers based on the report.

In Other News… (Yes, there is some)….

The club officers have met by Zoom to look at future plans. Peter and Keith are working with the aim of securing our long term occupancy of the Riverside Centre. This will be important if refurbishments and improvements to the building are made in the future. 

Future Meetings and Trips

Through Facebook we asked ‘Post-lockdown, what trips would you like to see?’ Thanks to all those who have responded we have lots of ideas from touring on canals, to estuary and coastal trips as well as whitewater days for beginners, intermediate and experienced paddlers. Anyone not on Facebook can email the club to make trip suggestions. Alan Reay (our safety officer) is always interested in hearing from members willing to lead and organise trips.

Despite the limited meeting schedule in recent months, our membership has grown. We are aware that without pool sessions new members in particular have not had access to capsize and rescue practice. We aim to put in a safety session as soon as we can meet again and when river and weather conditions are suitable.

Your Tips, Trips and Links

We know that though limited, some members have still been able to get out and exercise. To keep up with what people are doing, you could join our Facebook group. It’s a closed group, so no junk ads, just content related to paddlesports.

This link should take you to the Deva Kayakers and Friends page. You will have to request to join. Once accepted you can see what members are up to.

If you are already a member of the group, please keep us up to date with photos or notes of your paddling. Post onto the page any paddle related links, photos, tips, kit and book reviews, and let us know how you are keeping fit at home. (Anyone slalom down a staircase?  Roll a kayak in the lounge without breaking any ornaments? Practice polling on a skateboard?).

Looking Forward

As you can see, as a club we have lots to look forward to, even if we are restricted for now. If anyone is stuck at home alone or isolated and needs practical help or just a chat, feel free to get in touch via the club email. The email link can also be found on our recently re-designed web site. Any feedback or suggestions about the web site would also be appreciated.

On behalf of all the officers of the club,

Stay safe, look to the future and be positive, best wishes. John L

Extra Sunday Sessions

Extra Sunday sessions

Sunday afternoon sessions are usually run fortnightly at the Riverside at this time of year. This year they have proved to be more popular than usual and our membership is growing. To meet this higher level of demand we are now planning to hold club meetings weekly on every Sunday between now and Christmas. STARTING SUNDAY 25th OCTOBER.
Our programme of trips and pool sessions are very restricted at present. Extra Sundays will allow new members increased access to club boats and equipment and help them develop their paddling. For our more experienced paddlers we hope this goes some way in replacing trips you may have planned to rivers in areas under restrictions where we are asked not to travel. We are also aware that at present people need increased support to maintain physical and mental health.