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Canoe Cadet 25 May -1 June 2007

It was in 1986 that we first took a group of cadets away for a canoe week on the Rivers Soar and Trent in Leicester. Between the 25 May and 1 June this year another 55 cadets from across the county, together with 25 adults, took part in the 21st Canoe Cadet at Nene White Water Centre in Northampton.

Over the years more than 1,000 cadets of all ages and abilities have paddled and occasionally capsized their way through a week involving kayaks, open canoes, and ‘catacanoes’.

Cadets often arrive with little or no experience or confidence of water. At the end of the week many of them have discovered a new sport which grows into a passion. As an example Lieutenant Steven Hall of the Royal Signals first attended the week as a cadet in 1998. This year, although now a regular commissioned officer just back from a tour of duty abroad, Lieutenant Hall attended Canoe Cadet to coach instructors to become canoe coaches themselves.

Although Cadets choose which craft to specialise in they are given a flavour of each type of craft, and this year the British Canoe Unions Paddlepower syllabus was taught for the first time. This makes canoeing more fun and builds in a broader range of skills and more fun and games.

As Corporal Leigh Scully said about the week, ‘There aren’t any bad bits!’

Canoe Cadet also welcomed members of the Isle Of Wight ACF as part of a reciprocal arrangement which will see a number of our cadets travelling to the Isle of Wight later in the summer.

Once again, despite some pretty appalling weather for part of the time every cadet had a wonderful time learning about canoeing but also about themselves. Lance Corporal Mitchell Elliott captured the essence of the week when he said ‘The best bit is getting wet.’ What a great way of capturing the joy of canoeing.

Thanks to Captain Blor and SMI Hall for organising such a great week.

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