Highlights
2024
The Club celebrates 40 years with a dinner in the Pentland Hotel. Some past members attend
Iain Baikie passes is Coach assessment
The Club becomes a Scottish Charity Incorporated Organisation
Club memebers support a beach clean at Helmsdale (1.5te of rubbish removed)
2023
Club purchases 3 sit on top Kayaks with support from the Caithness Sports Council
Club purchases 2 tandem sea kayaks
Club participates in the Big Paddle Clean Up. 1.5te of plastic collected from 4 beaches
Ava Deighan and Maree Ford selected for the SCA Fit for Girls Programme
Emma Summers and Nancy Speirs join SCA Environmental Committee
Luke Brown gains Sea Kayak Leader Award
Members attend Coastal Water Naviagtion & Tidal Planning Course
Members attend Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course
Members attend Foundation Safety & Rescue Training Course
Ken Nicol Awarded the Caithness Scottish ClubSport Service to Sport Award
2022
Area by Club store at Thurso Beach badly eroded after storm. Club vacates store
Club purches 3 storage containers with support from the Caithness & North Sutherland Fund; the Baillie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and the Caithness Sports Council
Club establishes new base at Scrabster beach
Members attend Shetland Symposium
Club supports Spring Soakin Event
Luke Brown John Speirs and Gary Youngson provide support on final leg of Jasmine Harrison;s swim from Lands End to John o Groats
Nancy Speirs and David Shand gain Sea Kayak Award
2021
Club activities limited due to COVID Pandemic Restrictions
Members have weekend paddling in Orkney and Summer Isles
Members attend Orkney Sea Kayak Symposium and the Highland SUP Skills Weekend
Gary Youngson; Iain Baikie; Ben MacGregor; and Neil Parkin attend Advanced Sea Kayak Leader training course
Gary Youngson; Iain Baikie; Bradley Morrell and Neil Parkin gain Advanced Sea Kayak Leader award
Christine Deighan; Nancy Sepirs; Emma Summers and Ken Nicol gain SUP sheltered water award
2020
Club activities limited due to COVID Pandemic Restrictions
John Speirs; Iain Baikie; Neil Parkin; Ben MacGregor gained Sea Kayak Leader Award
Members attended a SUP skills development course
2019
Club members attended the Orkney Sea Kayak Symposium
Members participanted in a joint paddling weeked with NESKy
Members attended the Black Isle Sea Kayak Symposium
Gary Youngson and Bradkey Morrell gained Sea Kayak Leader Award
2018
Club purchases 2 sea kayaks with support from the Baillie Wind Farm Community Fund and the Caithness Sports Council
The Club puchases a plastic surf kayak for pool training
Members participated in trips including a week on the West Coast (Glenuig to Fort William)l overnight camp in Loch Erribol
Neil Parkin and Gary Youngson completed a Core Coach (Sea) training course
Neil Parkin and Gary Youngson gained 3 Star Sea Award
John Speirs completed White Water Leader training course
2017
Funding secured from Spirit of Caithness to attend UKCC L1 course
Chrsitine Deighan; Marcella Thompson; Gary Youngson; Emma Summers; Ben MacGregor; Mike Grain and Neil Parkin gained UKCC L1 course
Gerald Urquhart gained Advanced Sea Kayak Award
New storage arrangements to keep Club equipment at the Thurso Leisure Centre
Members completed a 3 day expedition through the Great Glen
Members spent a week kayaking on the Isle of Lewis
2016
Club purchased a Valley Nordkapp with support from the Caithness Sports Council
Limited access to the Thurso Leisure Centre, for winter pool training, due to facility refurbishment
Trips included a weekend at Scourie
Supported the Dounreay family day
Courses ran included Coastal Navigation and Tidal PLanning; Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning and Foundation Safety & Rescue
Gerald Urquhart gained 4 Star Leader (Sea) Award
Ken Nicol gained 4 Star Leader (Open Canoe)
Sam Robinson attended UKCC L2 Training
2015
Club purchased 4 kayaks (2 Pyranha Karnalis; 2 Pyranha Fusions) with support from the Baillie Wind Farm Community Fund; the Dounreay Communities Fund and the Caithness Sports Council.
Participated in a Watersports Day with the Pentland Firth Yacht Club
Trips include a weekend evet with NESKy and a Scourie Weekend
Neil Uprichard gained his 4 Star Whitewater
Courses included BCU Foundation Module on Swimming Pools and the Foundation Safety & Rescue
2014
30th Anniversary of the Club with celebration event at Feswick Castle
Weekend trip to Skye
Members joined others to paddle West coast rivers
2013
A new kayak (Wavesport) purchased for the Swimming Pool with support from the Caithness Sports Council
2 new sea kayaks (P&H Scorpios) purchased with support from the Caithness Sports Council and the Dounreay Communities Fund.
Upto £30000 funding received from the Caithness & North Sutherland Fund to support coach and leader development
2012
- With assistance from the Dounreay Communities fund and the Caithness Sports Council 2 new river kayaks had been purchased and 2 new kayaks for the swimming pool.
- 2 sea kayaks purchased
- Lease for beach store extended on a rolling yearly basis
2011
- Honoray Memberships introduced with 15 individuals awarded the membership
- With assistance from Awards for All and the Highland Council Wards Discretionary fund, the Club purchased an additional 4 Open Canoes and a trailer along with associated equipment.
- The Club purchased 3 new kayaks for the swimming pool.
2010
Club Purchases Open Canoe with support from Dounreay Communities Fund and Caithness Sports Council
Club Purchases 4th Open Canoe with support from the Caithness Sports Council
New UKCC Level 1 Coaches: Mark Cleminson; Sophie Muller
New UKCC Level 2 Coaches: Ivor Muir; Elaine Rowan
Six Club members gain 3 Star Award (Open Canoe): Elaine Rowan; Ivor Muir; Angela Squeir; Isobel Stronach; Sophie Muller; Ken Nicol
2 Members Attend White Water Safety Training Course
1 Member gains 3 Star Award (Sea): Anthony Cundall
Members attend Coastal Water Naviagtion & Tidal Planning Course
Members attend Open Water Navigation & Tidal Planning Course
Members attend Foundation Safety & Rescue Training Course
2009
25th Anniversary of the Canoe Club
Club Purchases Open Canoe with support from Dounreay Communities Fund and Caithness Sports Council
Members attend Coastal Water Naviagtion & Tidal Planning Course
Members attend Open Water Navigation & Tidal Planning Course
Members attend Foundation Safety & Rescue Training Course
2008
New UKCC Level 1 Coaches: Elaine Rowan; Ivor Muir; Angela Squeir; Ishbel Smith; Calum Stronach; Isobel Stronach; Gary Stronach; Nancy Speirs
Club Purchases Open Canoe with support from Caithness Sports Council
Club members undertake a sea paddling expedition in Croatia
2007
Club purchased 5 new sea kayaks and river kayaks with support from Awards for All
New wetsuits and helmets purchased with support from the Caithness Sports Council
Club was donated a Box Trailer through the Dounreay Communities Fund
Trips included a weekend in Speyside, Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium, a joint trip with NESKY in the Pentland Firth
2006
The Club held a joint trip to Eilean Nan Ron with the South Skye and Lochalsh Club
Trips included the joint Caithness Cruise with paddlers from across Scotland
Andy Ford and Simon Copsey become L2 Coaches
2 Sea kayaks and 2 river kayaks purchased
2005
Shona Comrie, Simon Copsey and Ken Nicol undertake an expedition in South Greenland
2004
2 members complete Coach L2 (kayak) training
Purchase of new kayak trailer
2003
Ken Nicol is a member of a party (Doug Cooper & George Reid) who complete the Pentland Triangle
3 members complete Coach L2 (Kayak) training
2002
Ken Nicol (along with Bob Silverwood from CKC) passes L5 Coach (sea) Award
Club helps with the organisation of the Surf Kayak Home International
Purchase 5 Surf Kayaks
Simon Copsey finishes second in the Scottish Kayak Surf Championships Novice Event
2001
2001
2000
2000
1999
Shona Comrie, Bob Silverwood and Ken Nicol are members of an expedition to Norway paddling from Floro to Bergen.
1998
1997
Club Organises the World Kayak Surf Championship (Paddlesurf 97) in Caithness
1996
1995
Largest Club membership to date
Ken Nicol, Paul Doherty and Gordon Kennedy are members of the Scottish team competing in the World Kayak Surf Championship in Costa Rica
1994
10th Anniversary of the Club!
Club purchases three plastic sea kayaks
Paul Doherty; Lindsey Bain; Gordon Kennedy; Kevin Mackay and Ken Nicol represent Scotland at Kayak Surf Home Internationals in Cornwall
Scottish Championship at Thurso
K Nicol wins Scottish Kayak Surf Championship
1993
Ken Nicol; Paul Doherty; Lindsey Bain and Kevin Mackay represent Scotland in World Championships in Santa Cruz, USA
Paul Doherty becomes Scottish Kayak Surf Team manager
Paul Doherty; Kathryn Dunnett; Ken Nicol and Kevin Mackay represent Scotland in Kayak Surf Home Internationals in Wales
Scottish surf Championships at Thurso
Lindsey Bain win the Ladies and Youth Kayak Scottish Surf Championship
Club Store Project Completed!!!!
1992
Paul Doherty is awarded CDSC Sportsman of the Year Award
Improver Award introduced
Kathryn Dunnett passed Instructor Assessment
Paul Doherty; Ken Nicol and Linsey Bain represent Scotland in Kayak Surf Home International in Ireland.
Paul Doherty wins Scottish Kayak Championship
Kathryn Dunnett wins Ladies Scottish Kayak Championship
Lindsey Bain wins Youth Scottish Kayak Championship
1991
Purchase of 10 plastic kayaks for the pool
3 members passed VHF radio exam
Club purchases two sea kayaks
World Surf Championships held in Thurso
Ken Nicol, Kathryn Dunnett, Paul Doherty; Paul Sinclair and Lindsey Bain compete in World Championship
Kathryn Dunnett finishes second in World Kayak Surf Championship
1990
Members bring in New year by rolling in the river
Club paddles around Stoer point
N Warren breaks plastic kayak
1989
K Nicol become Senior Instructor (Sea) examiner
P Doherty passes Senior Instructor Sea Award
1988
Ken Nicol Chairman of CDSC
First sea trips to Arisaig
Paul Doherty and Ken Nicol pass Inland Kayak Advanced Proficiency Award
Two members canoe round Cape Wrath
1987
Purchase 6 plastic kayaks and equipment
Purchase open canoe
Kayak Surf Home Internationals held in Thurso
Ken Nicol, Paul Doherty; Paul Dixon; represent Scotland in Home International
Scottish Canoe Surf Championships held in Thurso
Richard Bruce wins junior title
1986
Bridget Jones selected for Scottish Kayak Surf Team to compete in Cornwall
Paul Doherty Senior Instructor ( Inland)
Ken Nicol SI Examiner (Inland)
Ken Nicol passes Senior Instructor (Sea) Award
Club members find boat on Island
Scottish Kayak Surf Championships held in Thurso
Craig Hutton wins junior title
1985
Broken Paddle Award introduced
Isobel Buchan & Bridget Jones selected for Scottish Kayak Surf Team to compete in Jersey
Scottish Kayak Surf Championships held in Thurso
1984
Club formed
Trailer built
River race against CKC
Ken Nicol paddled across Pentland firth with Bill Bruce from Caithness Kayak Club
First beach clean
Club store project begun
First Speyside weekend
Scottish Surf Kayak Championship held for first time in Thurso
Jane Stillwell second in Ladies title
