About Nottingham Kayak Club
NKC was founded by Alan Witham in the 1960s from ex-members of the Peveril School Canoe Club. Some of those original members are still paddling & helping run our sessions today. Others are still involved in canoeing as officials.
Early premises were under an hotel on the banks of the Nottingham Canal, in the centre of the city.
This gave way to an old wooden shack on the current site.
The wooden shack in turn was replaced in the mid 1970s by the more substantial building that houses the club today.
We have over 150 members, with a growing proportion of families. About 100 members take part in competition locally, with around 90 of them also competing at national level with a substantial number selected to race for Great Britain in Marathon, Sprint and Wild Water Racing.
Despite being called a "kayak" club, members also compete in both canoe and kayak at all levels in each discipline.
Members selected at international level represent Great Britain up to World Championships level & in sprint also at Olympic level.
Tim Brabants (below) became World Champion at 1000 metres in 2007 and Olympic Champion in 2008. He also won bronze at 500 metres. http://www.timbrabants.com/
Hayleigh Mason (above right) was in the Bronze Medal winning Women's K4 at the European Championships in 2009 and then went on to partner Lani Janes (nee Belcher) to a bronze medal at the 2017 World Marathon Championships. Lani was the singles (K1) World Champion at the same event.
If something a little less strenuous appeals to you, the club also arranges "Recreational Paddling" sessions for those just beginning to paddle, those who prefer recreational canoeing or, touring, or "just messing about on the river."
The club caters for juniors with experienced and qualified coaches.
At the higher levels of the sport, marathon racing also includes running with your boat.
The club provides introduction sessions for all these disciplines and at a low level, the courses, boats and distances make it easy for people wanting to try them out. With competitions locally, regionally and nationally it is not difficult for paddlers to progress, with training matched appropriately. The club runs weekly time trials and also hosts a regional "Hasler" race as part of the national marathon series.
All 3 racing disciplines include opportunities for paddling as part of a crew with top level paddlers sometimes forming crews that introduce new paddlers. (Below)
A full programme of training sessions in the gym and on the water help Junior, Senior & Veteran members prepare for these events and form the majority of the club's weekly programme of racing activities.
For those who want a little more excitement, we also run trips to a variety of venues for sea touring, surfing or advanced river trips.
Nottingham Kayak Club
