​

THE FIRST

TWENTY FIVE YEARS

 

On Wednesday 23rd December 1953 the Birmingham Canoe Club was formally inaugurated, Geoff Sanders being elected Chairman and Ron Emes Secretary. The founding membership was composed of enthusiastic paddlers who hoped that by banding together they could extend their interest in touring canoeing to include other aspects of the sport.

Immediately the club was formed, a number of now familiar problems were identified: the need for a boathouse/clubhouse, what subscriptions to charge, how best to encourage attendance at functions and promote the growth of the club. This latter was complicated by the fact that there was still conscription at the age of 18!

 

 

 

Two boathouses were soon acquired.

One, under the railway arches in Selly Oak, proved of little use owing to its dilapidated state and the attentions of vandals. The other, at Knowle, became a popular base and led to the development of an interest in sprint racing within the club.

 

By the end of 1956 the club had some proud tales to tell, and some sad ones too. Of the membership of some 120, touring enthusiasts had enjoyed runs on

the Vyrnwy,Severn, Upper Wye, Wharfe, Anker, Trent, Alne, Avon, Warwickshire Stour, Tern, Teifi and many other rivers, with no recorded hint of access problems!! A slalom and regatta was organised with competitors from other clubs. The highlight of that year was the eight man expedition to N.Norway and Sweden; the low point was the elderly furniture van purchased to transport canoes, which broke down irreparably on its first outing! Wednesday night dry meets were started and were first held at Burlington Hall. The wide-ranging activities and interests of members in those early days are indicated by the achievements of Bob Thacker, Canoeist of the Year 1956, who, amongst other successes is recorded as - 1st. B.C.C. Slalom at Kings Mill (R.Trent)

2nd. York C.C. slalom

2nd. Midland C.G. 500M Sprint K1. 2nd. Midland C.C. 3.5 miles K1. Bronze Dipper. Leven W.W.race. 5th. Lakeland C.C. slalom (Div.2)

7th. B.C.C. Long distance race.

​

The growth of the club continued, not only in numbers but in skill in a wide range of canoeing disciplines, the club being 2nd in the National Club Long Distance Championships and achieving the first B.C.C. Div.1 slalomist.

There were, however, administrative difficulties, and changes in club policy were needed when members no longer had free use of canals under an omnibus club subscription to British Waterways and the club became somewhat fragmented because members were using a number of boathouses at different places. In 1959 all the bases except the one at Edgbaston were given up, and discussions began with Birmingham Rowing Club and Birmingham Corporation with a view to establishing a purpose-built BRC/BCC clubhouse at Rotton Park Reservoir, Edgbaston.

​

The cost of travelling began to affect the long distance enthusiasts and fewer races were entered, but the sprinters achieved noteworthy success in that from 20 British National Championship events BCC members took 17 firsts and many second and third places. The touring members continued to enjoy the Midland and Welsh rivers, adding the Dee, Usk, Monnow and Teme to the list of regular runs. A tradition of summer camps on the Scilly Isles began to develop. It is interesting to note that in 1959 an experimental fibreglass canoe was built!!

In 1960 Geoff Sanders retired from the Presidency, and later became involved with the administration of the BCD, of which he is currently (I.E. 1978?) Chairman of Council. He was succeeded by Ron Emes, who had worked tirelessly as Secretary for 7 years to build up the club until it was recognised as a leading club both nationally and internationally. Ron also became a BCD Council member and later BCD Racing Secretary, and he continue(d) to support racing interests on the Council. Such was his enthusiasm that in 1960 he was Team Manager of the Great Britain canoeing team at the Rome Olympic Games, and John Harris of the BCC was a member of that team.

Within the club, the considerable success of the racing members in 1960

led to increasing demands on the club's limited resources and the polarisation of the membership into racing and non-racing•  This division resulted in the racing enthusiasts setting up Birmingham Kayak Racing Club, and at the end of 1961 Ron Emes resigned from the Presidency of the BCC to concentrate his efforts in the new club.

The early 1960's saw a decline in membership, mainly as a result of a drop

in the number of affiliated clubs with their large youth memberships. The BCC membership dropped to 36 at its lowest point, and activities were not well supported although their variety remained considerable. The last of a series

of regattas and LD races was held at Edgbaston, but the baths nights at Rolfe Street, Smethwick, begun in 1958, continued to be popular. The touring canoeists predominated and their programme was wide ranging in both the degree of difficulty and the geographic location. In later years slalom became the principal competitive interest. Membership did not substantially increase until 1967 when the club appeared at the Birmingham Boat Show. In 1968 , with membership at 92, there were some notable achievements and some less happy events. After many years of being the home of dry meets, Burlington Hall was vacated, it would seem just in time, for shortly afterwards it had to be demolished following storm damage.

Having been non-operational for several years, Birmingham Kayak Racing Club was formally wound up. The canoes were handed over to the BCC  the parent body, and the club undertook to support racing interests if these developed in the future. The club achieved a crossing of the English Channel, and after many years of debate a start was made to build the Birmingham Rowing Club boat­house and changing rooms at Edgbaston, following the granting of a 21 year

lease to the BRC by Birmingham Corporation. The club logo, designed by Terry Rowntree, came into general use on badges, transfers, brooches and club stationery.

 

During 1968 and 1969 many activities were introduced which continue still the most notable being the ranking slaloms at Pont-ar-Ithon and Ludlow. Canoe sailing and bat polo were introduced also, and an upsurge of general enthusiasm followed the completion of the BRC boathouse, which had been built with the assistance of BCC members for joint use. A sponsored paddle on the River Severn in aid of the RNLI was a great success.

 

During 1970 the pattern of activities was consolidated, and that year is remembered principaly for the tragic death of Graham Wright whilst canoeing on the Avon at Fladbury.

There followed a number of years during which the club, then consisting of

some 150 members, found their enjoyment of access to rivers becoming increasingly restricted, and this led to increasing interest in sea canoeing. There also developed an interest in Wild Water Racing and by 1975 both these activities had attracted considerable following within the club, the sea tourists being noted for their exciting tales in the newsletters.

​

It now became evident that there was a demand for a waterside base of our own that was not subject to the severe restrictions of use prevailing at Edgbaston.

A positive search for alternative sites began, leading to discussions with Birmingham Corporation regarding the use of the reservoir at Salford Park. This possibility remains open, but following the proposal by the Severn-Trent Water Authority to open up Bartley Green reservoir for recreational use no decisions have been taken as we await (in 1978) details of the terms under which usage will be allowed.

The sad death of John Brown in February 1977, while canoeing the Goyt, was a very considerable loss to the club as he had for many years been a leading member and an inspiration to many to give that extra effort that in the last analysis makes everything worthwhile.

The club's Jubilee Year 1978 has been marked by a series of activities on and off the water. A sponsored paddle in February raised welcome funds for the RNLI even though many who took part suffered from some degree of exposure. Special events included a photographic competition and the compiling of a club scrapbook, and members have enjoyed the social pleasures of a barbecue,

a barn dance and the Annual Dinner. Canoeing activities continue to be wide ranging, with a further upsurge of enthusiasm for slalom and more tales of daring-do from the intrepid mariners.

What of the next 25 years? (i.e.1978 to 2003) Can we feel we are now a strong and active club, poised to tackle new challenges? Some may argue that the diversity of interests and lack of an over-riding common aim indicates an absence of positive leadership, but this I dispute. I believe our wide interest in all canoeing skills is the basis of our strength and the reason for our longevity. I will be content to await some future archaeologist's scribblings after another 25 years to see if this philosophy is justified.

 

By. R.C. Whittington

Written in 1978.