British Canoe Union
Encyclopedia
The British Canoe Union (BCU) is a national governing body for canoeing
in the United Kingdom, whose stated purpose is "Helping and Inspiring people to go canoeing”.
In 2000 the BCU federalised to become the umbrella organisation for the Home Nation Associations in England (Canoe England
), Scotland (Scottish Canoe Association
- SCA), Wales (Canoe Wales), and Northern Ireland (Canoe Association of Northern Ireland - CANI).
The BCU is responsible for leading and setting the overall framework for the National Associations; representing canoeing interests such as coaching and competition at UK and international level.
It formulates standards for training programmes with certification levels. It administers a range of personal performance awards and coaching awards, some of which are recognised by the UKCC.
1887 saw the formation of the British Canoe Association, which lasted about thirty years. Revived in 1933, it merged with the Canoe Section of the Camping Club of Great Britain. In March 1936, representatives of the Canoe Section of the Camping Club, Clyde Canoe Club, Manchester Canoe Club
and the Royal Canoe Club
formed the British Canoe Union.
The BCU is an umbrella organisation which brings together Britain's separate paddlesport organisations: Canoe England
, The Scottish Canoe Association
, The Welsh Canoeing Association
and The Canoe Association of Northern Ireland. It is concerned with all paddlesports in the UK, recreational as well as competitive, in open and closed craft, paddled with single and double-bladed paddles, on inland and coastal waters as well as open ocean.
The organisation creates the rules for competitive canoeing used throughout the UK and has over 30,000 individual members, 625 affiliated clubs and 145 approved centres. It is now approaching its 75th anniversary and is running a photo competition to celebrate. It is unique among national sporting certifying bodies in requiring continuous membership for qualifications to remain valid; thus it's membership is not strictly voluntary and may not accurately reflect the organisation's popularity.
The BCU has been attempting for over fifty years to increase the extremely limited public access to English and Welsh rivers. It recently started a Rivers Access Campaign
which aims to raise public awareness of the problems that kayakers and canoeists face in accessing the rivers of England and Wales (the right to paddle on Scottish rivers is already written into the law). This campaign aims to bring about changes in the law for England and Wales similar to those now established in Scotland that will open up more rivers to the public but is essentially a continuation of the previous ineffective policy.
"Canoeing" refers to the paddling of an open, non-decked craft (though there are decked canoes) propelled by a single-bladed paddle, generally in a kneeling position, while "kayaking" involves a closed-deck craft driven by a double-bladed paddle from a seated position. The term "canoeing" in the UK is often used generically to cover both kayaking and canoeing, in contrast to North American usage where the different terms are used.
The British Canoe Union's offical charity partner is the Canoe Foundation.
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
in the United Kingdom, whose stated purpose is "Helping and Inspiring people to go canoeing”.
In 2000 the BCU federalised to become the umbrella organisation for the Home Nation Associations in England (Canoe England
Canoe England
In 2000 the British Canoe Union federalised to become the umbrella organisation for the Home Nation Associations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland...
), Scotland (Scottish Canoe Association
Scottish Canoe Association
The Scottish Canoe Association is the governing body for canoeing and kayaking in Scotland.It covers all branches of the sport from recreational activities to whitewater racing, slalom racing and wildwater racing; flatwater sprint racing and marathon racing; canoe sailing; canoe polo; surf...
- SCA), Wales (Canoe Wales), and Northern Ireland (Canoe Association of Northern Ireland - CANI).
The BCU is responsible for leading and setting the overall framework for the National Associations; representing canoeing interests such as coaching and competition at UK and international level.
It formulates standards for training programmes with certification levels. It administers a range of personal performance awards and coaching awards, some of which are recognised by the UKCC.
1887 saw the formation of the British Canoe Association, which lasted about thirty years. Revived in 1933, it merged with the Canoe Section of the Camping Club of Great Britain. In March 1936, representatives of the Canoe Section of the Camping Club, Clyde Canoe Club, Manchester Canoe Club
Manchester Canoe Club
The Manchester Canoe Club is based on the banks of the River Goyt at Marple, in Greater Manchester, England. Since its foundation in 1933, the club has been actively involved in the development of canoe sport, particularly in the competitive disciplines of Canoe Polo and Canoe...
and the Royal Canoe Club
Royal Canoe Club
The Royal Canoe Club , founded in 1866, is the oldest canoe club in the world and received royal patronage in the 19th century. The clubhouse is based at Trowlock Island on the River Thames in Teddington near central London. The club promotes canoeing and kayaking, focusing on flatwater, sprint and...
formed the British Canoe Union.
The BCU is an umbrella organisation which brings together Britain's separate paddlesport organisations: Canoe England
Canoe England
In 2000 the British Canoe Union federalised to become the umbrella organisation for the Home Nation Associations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland...
, The Scottish Canoe Association
Scottish Canoe Association
The Scottish Canoe Association is the governing body for canoeing and kayaking in Scotland.It covers all branches of the sport from recreational activities to whitewater racing, slalom racing and wildwater racing; flatwater sprint racing and marathon racing; canoe sailing; canoe polo; surf...
, The Welsh Canoeing Association
Welsh Canoeing Association
Canoe Wales is the national governing body for canoeing and kayaking in Wales. It covers all branches of the sport from recreational activities to whitewater racing, slalom racing and wildwater racing; flatwater sprint racing and marathon racing; canoe sailing; canoe polo; surf kayaking and...
and The Canoe Association of Northern Ireland. It is concerned with all paddlesports in the UK, recreational as well as competitive, in open and closed craft, paddled with single and double-bladed paddles, on inland and coastal waters as well as open ocean.
The organisation creates the rules for competitive canoeing used throughout the UK and has over 30,000 individual members, 625 affiliated clubs and 145 approved centres. It is now approaching its 75th anniversary and is running a photo competition to celebrate. It is unique among national sporting certifying bodies in requiring continuous membership for qualifications to remain valid; thus it's membership is not strictly voluntary and may not accurately reflect the organisation's popularity.
The BCU has been attempting for over fifty years to increase the extremely limited public access to English and Welsh rivers. It recently started a Rivers Access Campaign
Rivers Access Campaign
The Rivers Access Campaign is being undertaken by the British Canoe Union to open up the inland water-ways in England and Wales on behalf of members of the public. Under current UK law, public access to rivers is restricted, and only 2% of all rivers in England and Wales have public access rights...
which aims to raise public awareness of the problems that kayakers and canoeists face in accessing the rivers of England and Wales (the right to paddle on Scottish rivers is already written into the law). This campaign aims to bring about changes in the law for England and Wales similar to those now established in Scotland that will open up more rivers to the public but is essentially a continuation of the previous ineffective policy.
"Canoeing" refers to the paddling of an open, non-decked craft (though there are decked canoes) propelled by a single-bladed paddle, generally in a kneeling position, while "kayaking" involves a closed-deck craft driven by a double-bladed paddle from a seated position. The term "canoeing" in the UK is often used generically to cover both kayaking and canoeing, in contrast to North American usage where the different terms are used.
The British Canoe Union's offical charity partner is the Canoe Foundation.