Canoeing

This exciting sport was first formally offered at Bridge House in 1999. Each year we participate in the South African Sprint Championships and Bridge House has been the top Prep school in country on two occasions. Our focus on sprints is due to the relative safety of this format of canoeing as compared to river racing which is very dangerous. Having said that, a number of pupils have participated with great success in races like the Breede, Fish and Duzi.

Training takes place on the Berg River where we use the premises of the Paarl Canoe Club. We paddle twice a week with one of the sessions being a time trial. A number of parents sometimes join us on the water as this is a sport which is accessible to all.

Our youngest paddlers are in Grade 2 and use Guppies which are specially designed boats for paddlers up to 12 years old. From there on the paddlers use K1 boats which are used by all adult paddler. Many of our present boats were donated by Pinehurst Wines while a trailer was donated by Mr Tich Middleton which enables us to compete at any venue across the country. It is this support which has made it possible to achieve so much in the sport in a relatively short space of time.

Bridge House has also facilitated coaching and assistance for the Paarl Canoe Club Development Team which is based at Paarl Canoe Club. We have always participated at the SA Championships together. Wayne August, who started paddling in the development programme is now a coach for the club and assists us with our coaching too.