Donegal Canoe Club

Newbies go cave paddling

admin — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:48:29 +0000

John Holmes and Robert Rutherford have been attending the pool sessions over the winter months but this was their first outside paddle. It was a fantastic day for late March so we headed to Marble Hill to explore some caves.

The boys enjoyed the caves and John had the pleasure of his first swim when a back swell caught him off guard. The water was still a little cold but both of them decided to practice their rolls on the way back…but learn’t how to be X-Rescued instead!

Castlefin Race 2012 – Cancelled

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:13:04 +0000

Unfortunately due to a set of circumstances that are beyond our control we have decided to cancel the Castelfin to Lifford race. We appologise for any inconvenience caused and wish you the very best of success with your marathon racing for the future. Donegal Canoe Club

Castlefin 2012 – Marathon Ranking Race

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:25:40 +0000

The Castlefin to Lifford ICU Marathon Ranking race will be on

Saturday 3rd March 2012.

Save time and Register On-Line! – See below
Registration opens 10.30 closes 11.30. Race starts at 12.00
Entry Fees: Seniors €10, Junior’s €5.00, U14’s FREE

Classes Long Course 15k
K1 Div 1 K1 Div 2 Open K2/T2

Classes Short Course 11k
K1 Div 3 K1 Div 4 Open K2/T2 Open Canadian C2
Men’s GP Woman’s GP Boys GP (U15) Girls GP (U15)
Also Boys (U14) Girls (U14) 1000 metre race

Download Race Flyer and Details here…

On-line Registration Status: OPEN – Please Click here to register

Liffey Descent 2011

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:24:04 +0000

The article in the Irish Times on this years annual Liffey Descent canoe race starts, “I spend Friday night, the night before my first Liffey Descent, imagining all the ways it could kill me. There are many. Drowning is obviously my number one concern, what with the raging torrents and the terrifying weirs and the rapids and the stoppers that trap you under the water.” For Donegal Canoe Club’s Zoe Stephenson and Aoife McLaverty this sums up their thoughts exactly, not just for the night before but for several months leading up to their first attempt at Irelands premier canoing event, and who can blame them! Pictured here L-R Anne Donnell, Zoe Stephenson, Aoife McLaverty and Mary Martin

Perhaps part of the attraction of learning to canoe is overcoming fear and with the right training and practice you can really surprise yourself.

Aoife decided a few years ago that river paddling wasn’t for her and she would instead concentrate on sea kayaking instead. Zoe recently had her kayak destroyed by the flooded river Finn and having previously almost broken her nose on the river Leanan was hesitant too. Never the less, for some strange reason both girls found themselves sitting at the start line for this years Liffey Descent race in Dublin.

Michael Roulston follows Mary Martin's lead in their Touring Canadian Double down one of the many weirs

Here are the places and race times for all of our members who attended this year.

Masters General Purpose
4th 2:31:38 Edward Broekaart
10th 2:50:04 David Leonard
14th 2:57:04 Cathal Herron
26th 3:14:34 Frank Roche
55th 4:25:11 Anne Donnell

Mens Senior General Purpose
94th 4:27:33 Vincent carson

Womans Senior General Purpose
17th 4:27:40 Zoe Stephenson
23rd 4:40:59 Aoife McLaverty

Touring Canadian Doubles
2nd 2:46:04 Tommy Marron / Noel Canavan
8th 3:03:30 Conor Kelly / Denis Gallagher
18th 3:23:56 Mary Martin / Michael Roulston

NI Surf Kayak Competition

admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:28:27 +0000

Northern Ireland Surf Kayak club’s third competition scheduled for 2011 is due to take place at Magheraroarty on Saturday 18th June. Surf kayakers and paddlers of all levels of experience are welcome to come along. Beginners are welcome and there is a plastic class for those new to surf kayaking- with the ultimate prize of a brand new plastic mega surf kayak for the overall plastic class winner in 2011. Prizes for all places in Juniors, Women’s, Masters and Open Short and Long Boat categories for this competition are kindly sponsored by Donegal’s own Rapid Kayaking http://www.rapidkayaking.com.

Please watch the NISK homepage at http://www.nisurfkayak.com in the week preceding the competition for up to date reports on the competition- as it is weather and wave dependent.

Registration will be at Magheraroarty Pier at 9a.m. sharp. Please arrive on time to avoid disappointment. Entry fee: £5/€6 per class