Another busy month as the weather gets (a little) milder and some more hours of daylight ...

Galway Canoe Polo League had another night in the pool in Leisureland and continues to generate some exciting match ups and internal club rivalries! Thanks to all who turned up to the club talk this month as well, planning activities and training for the coming months.  

A large group took to the Inny again in early February, with a focus on Level 3 skills training for many of the people involved. This was one of the biggest club trips in quite a while and great to see so many out on the water. Later in February another group took on the Shannon in Castleconnel at high water - another very successful day for all and another river added to the list for many of those involved. So plenty of river running interest at the moment.    

First two sessions of the junior program have taken place in Kilcornan pool this month now as well - a big thanks to all involved and very good feedback so far! Couple of weeks break until the next session takes place.

And good to see several members of GKC taking part in the second annual Galway Fest this month as well - whitewater time trials on the Boluisce river in Spiddal one day proved most popular, with freestyle in Clifden the second day. 120 or so paddlers braved the Boluisce on the day with some good times scored by the GKC participants. (Thanks to Conor Finnegan for the photo). Kudos to NUIG Kayak Club for what is a very successful competition that is going from strength to strength each year.

Things may have been quiet on the web front over the last months but that does not reflect on all that has been happening on the water! So a belated Happy New Year to all as we kick off a new calendar year of paddling ...

Club trips continue to have a lot of interest and have included the Inny (right) and Kilcogan rivers as well as a surf trip to Lahinch. Level 3 training recently started for a new group of members and will continue over the coming months. There have been a lot of peer paddling activities as well with people hitting up likes of the Boluisce, Bundorragha and Clare Glens. The rapids on the lower Corrib were working for a time over the last weeks resulting in large number of GKC and NUIG paddlers in the eddy trying to warm up cold hands in between spells on the wave ... much to the amazement of those strolling on Nimmo's Pier.  

Galway Canoe Polo League (GCPL) continues to run on a regular basis in Leisureland, with an expanded number of teams taking part this year - GKC has several teams involved. The club also runs weekly pool sessions in Kilcornan. These are mainly for polo and some skills sessions but have recently expanded to include an occasional play boating evening as well, giving members a chance to work on their play boating skills in the comfort of the warm pool at this time of year.

A new departure for the club is the upcoming trial with a group of juniors, so a warm welcome goes out to our latest and youngest members. Beginner course kicks off in the pool initially and will move to the canal in April time. A big thanks to all those who are helping out with the trial.

As the evenings get brighter and the weather milder, more paddling opportunities for all.

Another very successful GKC year rolls to an end with the AGM taking place in late September - a big thanks to all who have volunteered their time and skills during the year for the club activities.

September started with GKC providing a large contingent of safety paddlers for the Ironman Ireland 70.3 event in Galway. Practice swim on Saturday was a little rough but the Sunday event turned out to be a beautiful day for competitors and for the paddlers who braved the (very) early start in Blackrock that morning.

City of the Tribes Race was on locally mid month and a good practice for those looking to take part in the Liffey Descent next month.

Lot more sea kayaking - a beginner overnight trip and camping out in Streamstown area near Clifden, while the more experienced crew enjoyed a lovely late summer's day out from Maree and out around Island Eddy in the sunshine.

Dark evenings putting a stop to some of the week night events at this stage - time to hit the pool for the winter! Weekly pool sessions for polo and skills kick off next month, with plans for an expanded Galway Canoe Polo League (GCPL) already well under way. River runners  also looking forward to some rain to get back on the rivers again.