Xmas Newsletter 2014

Welcome to our packed Xmas newsletter for 2014! 

First of all, we would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to all our paddlers and their families, all our coaches and helpers, and our club officials.

Pool Sessions

Please remember there is NO pool sessions on Saturday 27th December. We re-start on Saturday 3rd January, with sessions starting at the usual times. We are however, fully booked for January but there are a few spaces left for February.
If you want to book for February, please book at the pool on Saturday 3rd January from 5:30 pm onward. If you have booked for January you should have been told which session you are in.

Xmas Paddle

There will be an intermediate moving water trip on either the 27th or 28th December. We are not sure where this will be yet as we need to assess the river levels nearer the date.
This trip will not be suitable for everyone and is not for paddlers who have not done any moving water before. For those not able to attend, further trips of varying abilities will be organised in the new year.
If you require any further information please ask on our facebook post .

New Year’s Day Paddle

We will be having our annual New Year’s Day Paddle on the River Ancholme, on (you’ve guessed it!) Thursday 1st January. Meet at the boathouse at 10:30 for a paddle Round the Island starting at 11:00. This open to all paddlers who have paddled with us during 2014, but is not suitable for complete beginners.

Sport England Lottery Funding!

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded £4200 funding from Sport England’s Small Grants Fund. This money will be used to purchase two KayakPro Compact Ergometers.

Click on this link for more details of the Compact Ergometer

We are also able to buy interactive software, a laptop PC and large screen, which together will enable to have two paddlers racing each other! The addition of the two ergo’s will allow us to take part in British Canoeing’s “U Canoe Wired” and “Indoor Kayak Racing” initiatives. We will be able to train indoors all year and to be able to promote the clubs at local events.

We are expecting delivery of the machines at the end of February, when we will promote the award more vigorously and announce details of the “U Canoe” programme.

Election of the Management Committee for 2015

We are inviting nominations for all Management Committee positions for the new committee year starting in February 2015. Anyone wishing to put their name forward for any of the posts should fill in this slip and return it to the Secretary by 14th January 2015. The proposer and one seconder must be over 18. Should there be more than one nomination for any position, there will be a vote at our AGM in February (date and venue to be confirmed). This is your chance to have your say in who is running your club.

None of the Sub Group Representative positions are up for re-election this year. For positions that are for re-election, are for further, details view and download the form on our website. Click here.

For details of Management Committee roles, see the club’s Model Articles, Constitution & Club Rules 2014, which can be downloaded off our website here.

Motions to be discussed at our AGM

We are inviting motions to be submitted for discussion at our AGM in February. If you have anything you want to propose or discuss this is your chance to have your say. It is your club so please get involved!! If you would like to submit a motion, do so using the form here.

Membership Fees 2015

Membership fees are due at the beginning of January. Please can you pay promptly in the new year. No doubt out Membership Officer will be remind you!

Canoe Polo

GSCC Anchovies, captained by Dan Walker, continue to do really well in Division 3 of the Yorkshire Region Polo league, currently sitting proudly on top of the table! Their most recent tournament was on the 12th December in York where they won all their matches, beating Kingston “D” 3-0, Hull Uni 3-1 and Leeds 4-1. The squad is Dan Walker, Owen Kelly, Tom Kerr, James Wilson, Stacey Wilson and Lui Wright.

GSCC Stingrays, captained by Colin Robinson, are also doing really well in Division 2 of the Yorkshire Region league. They are also playing in Division 3 of National league North, and finding it really tough, but they are holding their own, winning about a third of their games and not getting beaten heavily in the ones they do lose.

2015

2015 looks to be an exciting year. Not only have we secured the Sport England grant for the Ergos, we also have another bid in with Sport England for money to build a mezzanine floor to permanently site them on. We can look forward to expanding the club, getting more involved in the racing disciplines, and developing our facilities further. We will continue to run “Go Canoeing” taster sessions to attract new members, and to forge stronger links with other river users.

There is still much to be done: Sport England can not be relied upon for the money to build the mezzanine floor, so other avenues of funding need investigating. The Ancholme Rivers Trust are also desperate for money to develop the stretch of the river from south of our boathouse to the road bridge, which will greatly benefit us too. If you can help in any way with fundraising, please step forward, and if you have anything to contribute that will better the club, please make use of the AGM Motion Proposal Form, and even consider putting your self up for election to the Management Committee. And just because the Sub Group Representatives are not up for re-election this year, that does not mean you cannot help out here. We will still welcome volunteers to help with running the club events that we put on every year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from the GSCC Management Committee.