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CANI Development Plan

Over the past 6 month CANI has been drawing up a 3 year development plan. This plan is for the period 2006 to 2009. This plan can be read by clicking here

PADDLEFEST 2006

Paddlefest 2006 took place this year at the Bushmills Outdoor Education Centre from 3rd to the 5th of March. It is estimated 80-85 made the trip over to Bushmills for what was an extremely successful weekend for everyone involved in paddlesport. Feedback from members so far has all been positive.

A recently joined new member was over for the weekend with a friend both of whom with little paddling experience and slightly apprehensive about what to expect over the course of the weekend. They described it as one of their “best weekends ever”. They were made to feel welcome and it was good to see a variety of novice and advanced paddlers all benefiting from the experiences of the event.

Congratulations and thanks to Coaching Panel, in particular Anne Devlin for organising the event, to Robin Ruddock for preparing the Centre, Edge Watersports who donated a helmet and to Lindsay’s Protective Wear of Coleraine who donated a fleece jacket for the draw, Jonny Bingham, Ali Donnell, Rob Coffey, Lara Tipper and Matt Peach and to all the coaches who gave up their time to make this a highly successful weekend..

Northern Ireland Sails into new Waters with
Launch of Lough Erne Canoe Trail

Pictured from left to right Stephen Craig, Albert Woods, David Maxwell, Stanley Littlewood and Matt Peach.

In an exciting new era for outdoor pursuits, Northern Ireland is to experience its first ever Canoe Trail, in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh. This exciting new concept was launched on Thursday 26 May at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen. This new initiative was developed by the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland and Countryside Access and Activities Network (for Northern Ireland).

The opening of the trail coincided with the launch of a new website, www.nicanoeing.com. Canoeing Development Officer for Northern Ireland, Matt Peach is pleased with the impact that this project will have on the sport. “The website offers a fantastic source of information for tourists, enthusiasts and novices alike – it features a superb interactive map of the Lough Erne Canoe Trail and provides useful information on paddling here in Northern Ireland.”

Albert Woods, President of the British Canoeing Union, welcomed the development, citing, “I am delighted to see the development of Canoeing in Northern Ireland, this is a fantastic project, the trail can be paddled in sections or as a whole offering challenges and excitement to all those who wish to paddle it”. Matt Peach added, “The trail offers another Activity Tourism product in the Northern Ireland area and is further evidence of the flourishing and increasingly popular sport of canoeing”. The trail is 50Km long and will benefit canoeing enthusiasts of all abilities, with 10 interpretation panels dotted along the shoreline providing canoeists with information on nearby facilities, safety, the environment and local history. The trail passes through the vast expanse of the Lower Lough in full view of the breathtaking Cuilcagh Mountains offering a superb venue for the experienced paddler. In contrast the Upper Lough offers paddling through a maze of islands and narrow channels of slow flowing water, perfect for beginners and families, the Loughs are linked by the River Erne which passes through Enniskillen. The project has been funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Fermanagh District Council, Environment and Heritage Service and Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership through EU Peace and Reconciliation funding. The project has been supported by Waterways Ireland, The National Trust Castle Archdale Country Park and local Outdoor Providers the support of these organisations has been invaluable to the development of the project and will prove essential to the success of the trail in the future.

Publicity for the trail has been excellent with over 9 minutes of TV coverage and 5 minutes of radio coverage. The trail has also featured in 6 papers (local and national) and an editorial has been written for 4 leading outdoor magazines. A big thank you to all those who have helped me over the past year and a half to put this project on the ground – Special thanks to all in the Lakeland Canoe Centre and the Share Holiday Village - with out you guys it would never have happened!!

Matt Peach (Canoe Development Officer N.I)

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