Purley Canoe Club Celebrates Clubmark!

Purley Canoe Club celebrated its achievement of the Clubmark Award on the 30th January 2013 with a party at our monthly social evening.

The award reflects the safe and successful running of the Club which they have been working towards for the last few years and it is awarded by Canoe England. Councillor Donald Speakman and Lynn Barker, Canoe England Paddlesport Development Officer, were among the many guests.

The evening was opened with a speech by the Club Chairman, Gary Staples, who thanked members for their hard work in obtaining the award. Councillor Speakman presented the award certificate to the Club Chairman. Councillor Speakman said ‘Good health, exercise and paddling are to be recommended to all ages’ and that it was good to see people joining in the Club with a good mix of members. Lynn Barker from Canoe England said that the award is not easily obtained, only 160 Clubs nationally have achieved it, and such a small Club had worked hard to reach the standard.

Guests enjoyed slideshows of some of the Club’s many canoe trips. There was also the opportunity to try out your fitness on an ergonomic paddling machine and to view some of the Club’s kayaks and equipment. The evening was rounded off with a celebratory cake made especially for the evening.

The Club will now be working hard to maintain this accreditation. If you would like to try canoeing and see if it is the sport for you, then please contact the Club for more details about our activities or to book into one of our sessions which are advertised in our diary of events.