C3 Paddlers was established in 2002 and is a white water kayak and canoe club incorporating sea kayaking and overnight tripping. The club uses local rivers such as, the Bann, Blackwater and Cusher for members to paddle on and develop their skills. Membership is widespread and attracts participants from all over Northern Ireland.
​
Location
The club is located at Portadown Boat Club. The boat club is very accessible to the public and it can be reached from behind the Meadows Shopping Centre or at the Cascades Leisure Centre which is just around the corner.
​
Club Provision
New members will not be required to purchase any equipment before joining the club as they have a large supply of equipment which is there for members to use and available free of charge. The club is open to all sectors of the community and the coaching at C3 Canoe Club is carried out by professionally-trained and BCU recognised instructors. These instructors are all police checked and all operate in according to the keeping safe policy of CANI and BCU.
There are no age restrictions on new members and therefore young children are able to join the club.
​​
Training sessions
Training sessions are run at either Portadown Boat Club or Cascades Leisure Centre the location of which will be dependent on the weather and time of the year. During the summer sessions will take place at the Boat Club a Wednesday and either a Saturday or Sunday evening. However this changes in the winter and the sessions move to the pool in Cascades Leisure Centre which will take place on Wednesday nights. For new members who have not paddled before, the club has a beginner’s programme which is a for session programme for them to get to grips and learn some of the necessary skills they need in order to go out on the water.
​
Trips away
The club will often go on trips away throughout the year to different locations across Northern Ireland. However they also arrange trips to parts of Scotland for whitewater and flatwater trips. However the cost of these trips will be complete dependant on the location. For the local trips members will be changed £5, however for the trips to Scotland or to other parts of Europe, members will have to fund the cost of the entire trip themselves.
​
Additional information
C3 Canoe club is mainly a recreational club as it tried to get more and more families involved in the sport. The club offers its members the opportunity to participate in the sports main disciplines; whitewater, free style, canoeing and sea kayaking. To try and attract new members, the club will host a “Come and Try It” day where new members, can come and try out various types of canoeing or kayaking. This usually takes place once every year. The club also offers a free introduction session to potential new members where they can come, take part and see if it is for them and if they enjoy it before they make up their min on whether to become a member or not.
If you require any additional information, or want to find out more about C3 Canoe Club, contact the club via email: c3paddlers@gmail.com