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Virtual National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships, 2021

As we get ready for Autumn and the cooler weather ahead, we’re taking a look back over the Pop up Paddlesports weeks we delivered for Friends of Hardway this Summer. This is the third year now that we have run the event, commissioned by the local community group, and it continues to be hugely popular while providing free and fun activities to keep local kids busy during the long summer months.

The ‘Pop up’ event offered free kayaking taster sessions for local children in the coastal waters off Hardway Green in Gosport. For two weeks in July and August, children were able to take part in hourly sessions, in groups of up to 15. Each session began with ensuring all participants were kitted out with buoyancy aids and paddles and after an onshore briefing they took to the water, with Oarsome Chance instructors on hand to teach them the basics and play some games once they were comfortable on the water.

Those new to kayaking were taught in the calm shallow water closer to shore. Those who were more confident or already had some experience were able to venture out further for games and races out in the bay, all under the supervision of Oarsome Chance staff, on the water with them. Sadly we lost one day to poor weather in the second week, but otherwise we were taking up to 40 children and young people out on the water every day.