Paddle Cymru

Strong Results in Augsburg!

North Wales Slalom paddlers were in action at the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Augsburg, Germany, held from 12–14 June on the iconic Augsburg Eiskanal, the venue of the 1972 Olympic Games.

The team delivered some fantastic performances against international competition:
Robyn Taunt continued her impressive form, claiming a silver medal in C1 Women U18, with 3rd place on Saturday and 2nd place on Sunday.
Oli finished 11th overall in the K1 Men Open category, while
Lara secured 9th overall in K1 Women U18.
Robyn also finished 4th overall in K1 Women U18, narrowly missing out on the podium.

A brilliant weekend of racing on one of the world's most famous slalom courses and another step forward as the paddlers continue their international season.

From the pages of Ceufad to our website...

Adventure, teamwork and a few unexpected challenges along the way! This story, originally featured in a previous edition of Ceufad, follows St David's College students as they take on canoe and sea kayak expeditions on the River Severn and Loch Sunart as part of their outdoor education programme.

From navigating logjams on the Severn to exploring Scotland's stunning west coast, it's a fantastic example of the confidence, skills and memories that paddlesport can help create.

Read the full story.

RIVER SEVERN AND LOCH SUNART - Paddle Expeditions with St. David’s College This year the canoe group’s objective was to paddle from the upper reaches of the historical navigation on the River Severn, from Pool Quay to Coalport just downstream of the Jackfield Rapids. A journey of about 96km on the river, although much shorter in a straight line! It quickly became apparen...

Looking for an adrenaline-filled day on the water this summer?

Whether you're tackling the rapids on a rafting adventure or building your confidence on a paddling session, the National White Water Centre in Bala, North Wales offers unforgettable experiences for all abilities.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Eryri (Snowdonia), it's the perfect place to challenge yourself, learn new skills, and make lasting memories on the water.

Book your next adventure today https://www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk

GB Success in Kraków!

From 30 June to 5 July, Paddle Cymru Coach Emily Davies was in Kraków, Poland, providing race support to paddlers on the GB programme at the ICF Junior and Under 23 Canoe Slalom World Championships.

A special congratulations to Thomas Mayer of Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, one of Emily's paddlers, who secured a fantastic bronze medal in Kayak Cross on the world stage.

The championships showcased some of the best young paddlers in the world, with Great Britain finishing 8th overall in the medal table. European nations dominated the competition across canoe slalom and kayak cross events, highlighting the depth of talent across the continent.

Well done to Emily, Thomas and all the athletes, coaches and support staff who represented Great Britain in Kraków.

Sport Wales

With low water levels affecting many rivers and waterways across Wales, now is a good time to refresh yourself on some simple ways to paddle responsibly and safely.

If you’re dragging your boat through the water, scraping the riverbed with your paddle, or struggling to find a navigable channel, it’s probably too low to paddle. Low water levels can disturb wildlife, damage habitats, affect fish spawning areas, and increase health risks for paddlers.

Before heading out:
• Check water levels using tools such as RiverApp, River Predictor UK, NRW River Levels or Farson Digital Water Cams.
• Avoid shallow waterways and stick to deeper channels where possible.
• Be aware that water quality can be poorer during low flows, including an increased risk of blue-green algae.
• Never drink the water, cover cuts before paddling, and wash thoroughly afterwards.
• Continue to follow Check, Clean, Dry biosecurity guidance to help prevent the spread of invasive non-native species.

The dry spell places extra pressure on our rivers, lakes and wildlife, so every paddler can play a part in protecting the places we enjoy.

The Chipper is back!

On 4–5 July, Division 1 and Division 2 canoe slalom racing returned to The Chipper on the River Tryweryn for the first time in over 20 years, and what a comeback it was.

More than 150 paddlers travelled from across the UK to compete on one of the country's most exciting white water sections, with competitors and parents giving the event 100% positive feedback.

A huge congratulations to North Wales Slalom, Mold Canoe Club and Bala Canoe Club for working together to deliver such a successful event and bring top-level slalom racing back to North Wales.

📸 Check out some of the action from an unforgettable weekend on the Tryweryn.

Help shape the future of white water paddlesport qualifications and safety.

British Canoeing Awarding Body is looking for a white water paddling specialist to join its White Water Technical Group. This is a fantastic opportunity to help guide the development of qualifications, awards and safety standards across the sport.

The role involves a four-year commitment, with all meetings held online. If you have knowledge and experience in the white water environment and want to contribute to learning, development and safety, applications are now open.

🗓️ Applications close at 6pm on 17 July 2026

Find out more and view the Terms of Reference here:https://britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/wp-content/files/01102018TermsOfReference-DisciplineTechnicalGroupsV1-4Aug2024.pdf

📢 Be Active Wales Fund applications are open!

Looking to grow your club, invest in new equipment, develop coaches, train volunteers or improve facilities? The Be Active Wales Fund offers grants from £300 to £50,000 to help community sport thrive across Wales.

📅 Upcoming application windows:
• Window 2: Opened 8 July 2026 and closes 4pm, 16 September 2026
• Window 3: Opens 9am, 4 November 2026 and closes 4pm, 13 January 2027

If your club has a project in mind, now is the time to start planning.

Sport Wales

Be Active Wales Fund | Sport Wales Find out how your sports club could get up to £50,000 of National Lottery funding for equipment and coaching courses.

What does it really take to make coaching work for women?

New research from Women in Sport has highlighted the barriers many women coaches still face, from having their expertise questioned to experiencing bullying, discrimination and a lack of support.

As women's sport continues to grow, creating coaching environments where women are respected, valued and able to thrive is more important than ever.

The report highlights that coaching remains one of the least gender-equal areas of sport and calls for cultural reform to improve support, safety and opportunities for women coaches. Read the report and explore the recommendations for change.

Women in Sport

Reimagining Sport Coaching: Designing a System That Works for Women - Women in Sport Charity New research shows that sports coaching in the UK is a hostile environment for women. Coaches are the backbone of sport in the UK, from grassroots to high…

What a fantastic first year for Hunters Day!

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in making Hunters Day 2026 such a success. What began as a simple idea to bring paddlers together in support of hospice care has grown into a nationwide event.

This year's participation map shows 1,204 paddlers across 97 groups taking part around the UK to show their appreciation for hospice care.

Thank you to the organisers, clubs and paddlers who got involved. We look forward to seeing Hunters Day continue to grow in 2027.

Take a look at the participation map: https://map.huntersday.org/