Sutton Bingham & District Canoe Club

More about the club

Sutton Bingham and District Canoe Club aims to promote the sport and recreation of canoeing in a safe and enjoyable way, to provide opportunities for those wishing to try the sport for the first time and encourage those already partaking in the sport, to achieve their full potential.

The club was formed in the spring of 2001 and provides canoeing and kayaking opportunities for all ages and skill groups.  We are a family friendly sociable club that is accessible to all.  Our membership over the last few years has grown from around 175 in 2008 to over 280 in 2011 making us one of the larger and more active clubs in the south west.

Membership is open to all and you are more than welcome to come along to any of the reservoir sessions to see what we do.

We are affiliated to Canoe England (BCU), have achieved BCU Canoe England Top Club accreditation, have been awarded Club Mark by Sport England which is recognition of high standards of safety, coaching and club management and we are a Community Amateur Sports Club.

The club’s main base is Sutton Bingham Reservoir, 5 miles south of Yeovil, Somerset in the parish of Closworth. Here we meet weekly with the main paddling period being April to October.  We also have regular access to the River Yeo and Sherborne Pool.

We run taster sessions and paddling courses with BCU qualified coaches for those that are new to canoeing and kayaking or are returning after time away and wish to refresh their skills.

Beginners start on Sutton Bingham Reservoir using a good selection of club boats, paddles and safety equipment.  All a beginner needs is a change of clothing in case they get wet.  After gaining competency you may wish to join the trips the club organise throughout the year with intermediate and advanced training and paddling experience on a variety of waters ranging from swimming pools, canals, rivers (from gently moving to fast flowing), the sea and in the surf.

The club supports many of the different disciplines within the sport, including canoe, kayak, white water, placid water, polo, marathon, surf and slalom.  Specialised boats belonging to the club in most of these discipline are available for members to use after the appropriate training and guidance has been given.

The club is active in competitions in marathon, polo and slalom at both a local and national level with skill levels ranging from novice to competing with Olympic paddlers.

Trips, usually at weekends, cover a wide area of the south-west are good fun for everyone from all ages taking part. It may be a lazy paddle along a restored canal, down a beautiful tree lined river valley teeming with wild life, or a heart pounding blast down rapids and over waterfalls where staying dry is impossible and remaining upright a real challenge.  Waters we regularly use include the River Axe, Barle, Exe and Tone, Exeter & Taunton Canal, the Devon and Dorset Coast, Bude for a surf trip, River Wye at Symonds Yat and Llandysul bunkhouse for a weekend of white water and slalom training on the River Teifi.