Paddle Cymru

12/06/2026

🚨 Bookings Open Soon: Paddle Cymru Development Days 2026 🚨

Looking to grow your skills, support your club, and get inspired on and off the water?

Join us for a series of Development Days across Wales this autumn, packed with practical sessions, fresh ideas, and opportunities to connect with others in the paddling community.

📅 Dates & Locations
📍 12 Sept – National White Water Centre
📍 19 Sept – Cardiff International White Water (TBC)
📍 7 Nov – Llandysul
📍 14 Nov – Newtown

💷 £35 per person (includes lunch)
Provisional programme until minimum numbers are met

What to expect:
✅ River leader tips and real-world ideas
✅ Coaching pathways to support your club
✅ Sustainability conversations across paddlesport
✅ Bank-based rescue skills
✅ Youth programme insights

Plus selected sessions depending on location:
🚣 Rafting on the Tryweryn
📸 Photography & videography for clubs
🏄 Bringing SUP into your programme
💬 Inclusion and neurodiversity in coaching

Whether you're a coach, volunteer, club lead, or just keen to learn more, these days are designed to support you and your paddling community.

11/06/2026

NEW FOR 2026 – THE KAYAKTHLON CHALLENGE! Ready to take your River Festival experience up a level?

This year, we’re introducing the Kayakthlon, a fun, inclusive challenge for paddlers of all abilities, all while raising money for a brilliant local cause 💙

💷 Entry: £10 per person
❤️ Supporting Calon Tysul

Every penny goes directly to Calon Tysul, the local leisure centre that supports our winter pool sessions, helping paddlers build skills and confidence all year round.

🏅 What to expect?
A series of fun paddling and fitness challenges testing your skill, endurance and teamwork. Whether you're in it to win or just for the laughs, everyone is welcome.

📅 When?
Sunday of River Festival weekend🕔 17:00–19:00 (including prize giving)

🌟 Why get involved?
✅ Support a fantastic local facility
✅ Help keep winter kayaking sessions running
✅ Challenge yourself and your mates
✅ Win bragging rights (and maybe a prize…)
✅ Have a great time doing something positive

This is our chance to give something back to a place that gives so much to our paddling community.

Add it to your festival plans, grab your friends, and get involved.

Llandysul Paddlers Canoe Centre and Club

10/06/2026

💙 A huge thank you to our She Paddles Cymru volunteers 💙

We couldn’t let National Volunteer Week pass without celebrating the incredible women who make She Paddles Cymru what it is.

Behind every session, every smile, and every success on the water, there’s a team of dedicated volunteers giving their time, energy and care. And honestly… we don’t think people always see just how much they do.

From carrying boats and offering words of encouragement, to capturing those brilliant moments on camera or sharing expert coaching advice, there’s nothing this team can’t do!

Each volunteer brings their own unique sparkle, and we are so lucky to have such inspiring women leading the way.

On a personal note, this programme simply wouldn’t run without them. It wouldn’t have the same impact, the same energy, or the same sense of community.
So thank you. For everything you do, on and off the water 💙

09/06/2026

⚠️ BE AWARE - River Severn just below Newtown ⚠️

Be aware that there is a large tree stuck on Penarth Weir just below Newtown. In addition to the this, the egress above the weir is currently closed. Gr SO 139 926,

What three words ///field.weeps.trains

There is no safe egress directly above the weir.

08/06/2026

Welsh Sprint Squad bringing the speed!

A fantastic weekend of racing at the National Regatta (30–31 May) with some brilliant results from our athletes 👇

🥇 Evie Wong – 1st Women’s B K1 500m
🥇 Hannah Stephens – 1st Women C/D 2500m
🥇 Matilda Godsell & Ruby Lloyd – 1st Women’s C K2 500m
🥇 Matilda Godsell – 1st Girls C K1 500m
🥇 Ava Wong – 1st Girls A K1 500m
🥇 Katie Luen-Twining – 1st Girls B/C K1 500m + 1st Girls A–C K1 200m
🥈 Poppy Bellamy – 2nd Girls B/C K1 500m + 2nd Girls A–C K1 200m
🥇 Katie Luen-Twining & Ava Wong – 1st Girls A–C K2 200m
🥇 Osian Davies – part of winning Boys A–C K4 500m crew
🥇 L Pound – part of winning Boys D K2 200m & K4 500m crews
🥇 Ember Davies - 1st Girls D 2.5K

👏 A huge number of athlete promotions across the weekend too, a great sign of the squad’s strength and progression.

And a special mention to Evie Wong, who has been selected to represent Team GB this summer at the European Championships in the K1 1000m and K4 500m 🇬🇧

Brilliant racing, brilliant results – llongyfarchiadau pawb!

07/06/2026

River Dee update ⚠️

The recently reported pollution issues on the Dee in Llangollen have now been traced and repaired, according to Natural Resources Wales.

Investigations found the cause was linked to a misconnection and damage to a wastewater inspection chamber, which may have allowed polluted water to enter the river. Repairs and a clean-up have now been completed, with monitoring ongoing.

This follows earlier concerns raised by paddlers about water quality, visible foam, and illness after time on the river.

It’s a positive step forward, but a reminder of just how important it is to:
💧 report anything unusual on the water
💧 protect the places we paddle
💧 keep each other informed

👉 Read more: https://llanblogger.blogspot.com/2026/05/water-watchdogs-say-cause-of-dee.html

Llangollen news blog

06/06/2026

Twenty two athletes from Canoe Wales Polo/Canŵ Cymru Polo have returned from France after competing at TIP Pas Du Calais in St Omer.

A big thank you to Canoe Kayak Club Saint Omer for hosting a brilliant event. Facing strong French, German and Belgian opposition, it was a valuable learning experience for everyone involved.

A special shout out to the Under 18s team who secured a well deserved third place. Young paddlers also had the opportunity to officiate matches and connect with players from across Europe.

Next up, it is back to training and planning for the August Academies competition in Nottingham.

04/06/2026

What better way to enjoy the recent hot weather than a half term training camp at the

All of the Welsh slalom squads were out making the most of the sun and some awesome whitewater and the weekend rounded things off with racing at Bala Mill and some fantastic promotions across the squads.

Great job team 💪

Thanks to The National Lottery for supporting our performance pathway 🙌

03/06/2026

With the hot weather, more people are heading to our rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the sea.

Even on warm days, the water is still cold enough to trigger cold water shock, which can cause panic and uncontrolled breathing.

If you unexpectedly fall into the water, try to stay calm and Float to Live.
Lean back, keep your airway clear, and use your arms and legs to help you stay afloat. Focus on controlling your breathing before deciding what to do next.

If you see someone in trouble, call 999 or 112. At the coast, ask for the coastguard. Inland, ask for the fire service.

Open water can look calm and inviting, but it behaves very differently to a swimming pool. Currents, waves and unseen hazards can make it much harder to stay safe.

Take a moment. Know the risks. Stay safe.

02/06/2026

Last chance to have your say on the BCAB Coach Award Review 2026.

The survey closes on 5 June 2026, and this is an important opportunity for coaches, providers and organisations to influence how the qualification supports real world paddlesport delivery.

We’ve had a low response from Wales so far, so every voice really matters.

It only takes around 10 minutes to complete.

If this affects your colleagues or network, please pass it on.

Fill out this form.