2012 membership fees now due - renew online today!

News

Do you have your own piece of news to share with the community? Perhaps a review of a recent event? Send it to us with Contribute and it could feature here or in the Journal

03 February 2012
Half term event: Venture Out

Free event on Saturday, 18th February at Apley Woods, Telford. For further details, click here to view the flyer

14 January 2012
Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all. We hope you had an enjoyable Christmas. We start the year with a couple of information points:

  • Remember that your membership fees are due now, so if you haven't paid yet then please do so. You can do it online - all you need is your credit/debit card, two minutes of your time and to click this link. Payment is due by January 31st to prevent your membership expiring
  • We have received details of an event at the start of August - a summer camp type event, based on natural crafts workshops. It will take place on the River Dart in Devon. The organisers are looking for someone to run coracle-making workshops - if anyone is interested, please drop the Secretary an email

Don't forget to let us know using Contribute of any events taking place this year, so we can publish them in our Spring Newsletter and online. The earlier we know about them, the better!

30 July 2011
2011 Annual General Meeting and Regatta

Article by Euan Raffel. Photos by Dave Purvis

The 21st Annual General Meeting and Regatta took place on 10 July at Broughton Castle, Banbury. As with the rest of the weather this summer, the forecast was for a wet day, however the exact opposite happened - the sun shone out and we were graced with a perfect summer's day.

Although we were competing with the British Formula 1 taking place at nearby Silverstone, we had an excellent turnout of visitors throughout the afternoon to watch the antics - including the local fire brigade! A number of our members took to the water in two teams to compete for the Geraint Jenkins trophy, in games including sprint, relay, jousting and water polo. Whilst the level of competition was fierce, it didn't take long for the first unlucky soul to end up in the drink.

Partway through the afternoon our host, Lady Mariette, joined our competitors on the water for a brief paddle about before bravely escaping the start of the jousting. Our thanks go to Lord and Lady Saye and Sele for once again allowing us to use their grounds for our AGM and Regatta, and to all those who came along to watch or take part.

Click the thumbnails below to view full sized versions

Click to view image Click to view image Click to view image Click to view image Click to view image

04 July 2011
Mawddach Paddlesports event

Article and photos by Dylan Jones, Coracle Society Archivist

Possibly for the first time ever the coracle was introduced onto the river Mawddach over the weekend of May 21st - 22nd 2011

A few months previously, the Coracle Society had been invited to the inaugural Paddlesports weekend organised by the Mawddach Rotary Club. It was decided that the weekend on the Mawddach would be a joint venture with St Fagans: National History Museum. At the festival the Dwyryd coracle from the museum’s reserve collection would be displayed. It was fitting the Dwyryd was chosen as it is only some 20 miles or so from the Mawddach. Information panels and various photographs were supplied by St Fagans. From his own collection Karl Chattington brought his Tywi and Teifi coracles.

It was hoped on the Saturday morning a coracle would have been launched in Barmouth but due to adverse weather conditions this was postponed and the sheltered area in front of the George at Penmaenpool by Dolgellau was used instead. This provided a picturesque setting for a coracle demonstration. Competitors and spectators alike were drawn to the display tables which covered the coracle’s history and method of construction and of course to the main attraction of Karl showing his coracling skills on the estuary.

Sunday proved a complete washout with everything, apart from the coracle display, being cancelled due to high winds and rain. However the display was set up and a constant stream of spectators enthused over the coracle. Karl braved the elements as not to disappoint the gathering crowds. A local Hotelier also appeared on the scene with his own cowhide coracle, which was constructed at Leintwardine. A few hardy souls even went on the estuary with Karl.

A thoroughly enjoyable weekend was had by all and for a few hours the coracle was the main focus of attraction in this part of Wales gaining much publicity in the Dolgellau area with people coming from afar to see this unique craft, many seeing it for the first time. The Mawddach Rotary Club raised £3,500.00 for charity – a considerable sum considering the weather.

Click the thumbnails to view full sized pictures

30 June 2011
Shrewsbury 1864 event

Article by Terry Kenny. Photos by David Wright

On 19th June, Shrewsbury re-enacted the Olympian Festival of 1864.  Held at the Quarry, in the loop of the River Severn, this featured many of the events from the original festival.  The sport of jingling is unfortunately not included in London 2012, otherwise you might have been able to get tickets.

We had been asked to provide some Victorian style coracle racing.  As you know, organising coraclers is a bit like herding cats, so until the day I had no idea who was going to turn up.  So I was relieved to arrive at the Pengwern boat club to find Matin Baines, dressed in colonial garb with a hide coracle. Then others began to trickle in, including splendidly attired refugees from the Ironbridge Regatta keen to renew old rivalries.

So, about 5 minutes before the off, the question was "What are we going to do?"  The rowers had impressive race lists of head to heads and repecharges.  We just gave the megaphone to Gerwyn.  Honed by years of commentating at Ironbridge, his patter soon drew a large crowd.  We put on a paddle-past, while Gerwyn kept the spectators informed about the different coracles. Luckily, there were three types of Shrewsbury on show, plus representatives of the Teifi, Ironbridge and Teme traditions.

There followed, according to the PA, some "blistering" coracle racing.  A team relay event, a one-handed race and a sprint.  This being a decorous Victorian regatta, we left out the polo.

At the conclusion of the event, we were given a round of applause from the on-lookers.  So we felt we had earned the tea, scones and cake on offer at the rowing club.

The loop at Shrewsbury is a lovely place to paddle, so long as you keep an eye open for pointy things travelling backwards at high speed.

Click on the thumbnails below to view full sized pictures

back to top