News Articles in the category 'Activities'

Adult Fencing: introduction course starts Wednesday from 8pm, 6-week course

£45 for the first 2 people that book….

First Aid Courses: Level 1 : 11^th February : £60

Fencing Taster: 16^th February : 10.00 -14.00 : £25

-       New junior course to start soon on Saturday mornings.

Rowing Introduction 2-day Courses: 13/14 February : 10.00 -14.00 : £60

-       Rowing Club sessions have re-started, so please call to book.

Activity Days: £7 per person for 3 activities: 9^th Feb, 10^th Feb, 24^th Feb.  Open to all but must have a minimum of 6 people to run the activity.  Suitable for all ages but no supervision will be provided between activities

Half-term Activity Days : £30 per person for 4 activities and lunch : run every week day of half-term.

Climbing Course: 8^th February : £60.00 for 6-weeks which will allow a young person to experience all of our climbing and ropes courses and progress their climbing skills.

Family Activity Day : Saturday 25^th February : £10 for two activities at 10.30 and 12.15.

Those 8+ may take part on their own, those 6+ will need to take part with an adult.  No supervision provided between activities, so ideally parents will join in too.

If you would like to book any of the above, contact our bookings team:

bookings@longridge.org.uk  :  01628 483252 ext 200

 

Adult Fencing: introduction course starts Wednesday from 8pm, 6-week course £45 for the first 2 people that book….

Are you aged between 13 and 24?  Or know someone that is!!

If so, can you help us out and get here tomorrow (Wednesday 1^st February) for a 4.15 kayaking session, or close to that time?  You need to have done some kayaking or rowing with us already, preferably a Sportivate or Sports Unlimited course.

Some more instructors would be useful as well…

We have Sky Sports coming down to film our sports for a piece about Sportivate and 2012 legacy funding and ideally would like to fill the place and show Longridge and its best (but a bit cold….)

Let Amanda know if you can be here - amanda.foister@longridge.org.uk 

Message posted Tuesday 31^st January….

 

 

On Wednesday 1st February - after school

First Aid Courses: Level 1 : 11^th February : £60

Fencing Tasters: 16^th February : 10.00 -14.00 : £25

Rowing Introduction 2-day Courses: 13/14 February 16/17^th February : 10.00 -14.00 : £60

-       Rowing Club sessions have re-started, so please call to book.

Activity Days: £7 per person for 3 activities : 23^rd Jan, 30^th Jan, 9^th Feb, 10^th Feb, 15^th Feb, 24^th Feb.  Open to all but must have a minimum of 6 people to run the activity.  Suitable for all ages but no supervision will be provided between activities

Half-term Activity Days : £30 per person for 4 activities : run every week day of half-term.

Climbing Course: 8^th February : £60.00 for 6-weeks which will allow a young person to experience all of our climbing and ropes courses and progress their climbing skills.

Activities : Saturday 25^th February : Mark and Adam two of our most senior instructors are not booked out at all in the morning, they can run any of our activities and get very bored if sat around doing nothing, so offered at 20% discount to run an activity of your choice.

If you would like to book any of the above, contact our bookings team:

bookings@longridge.org.uk  :  01628 483252 ext 200

updated on 27th Jan....

First Aid Courses – Level 1 – 11^th February - £60

1-day Fencing Tasters – 16^th February – £25

Rowing Introduction 2-day Courses – 13/14 February 16/17^th February - £60

New for April (start Wednesday 18^th April) are Vision 2020 4-week courses to introduce young people to racing kayaking and hopefully find some Olympians for 2020.  Ideal for those that have completed their BCU Discover courses are want to start competing.

Activity Days - £7 per person for 3 activities – 23^rd Jan, 30^th Jan, 9^th Feb, 10^th Feb, 15^th Feb, 24^th Feb.  Open to all but must have a minimum of 6 people to run the activity.

Go Karting or Climbing for up to 12 people at 10.30 - £30 per session – weekend dates of:

21^st Jan, 22^nd Jan, 28^th Jan, 29^th Jan, 5^th Feb, 11^th Feb, 25^th Feb

If you would like to book any of the above, contact our bookings team:

bookings@longridge.org.uk  :  01628 483252 ext 200

2012 - The Year of Adventure

Info on the just giving page!!

Come and cheer us along.

Due time to pass under Marlow Bridge will be posted nearer the date.

http://www.justgiving.com/Longridge-DW-Race

Chris & Mark are entered to compete in the Devizes to Westminister Canoe Race!

Host: Countess Howe

Where: Penn Ho , Penn Street,Amersham, HP7 0PS

Event: fork supper

Reason: To help raise money for a new bus

Date: 12th January 2012

Time: 7pm

RSVP: amanda.foister@longridge.org.uk

If you love Longridge. You are invited to join us for a Fundraising Evening

To start with us asap.

 

If you are interested in working as part of the Longridge Team and helping to create a wonderful site Cafe, email or ring Amanda Foister

amanda.foister@longridge.org.uk  : 07540 411779

Looking for either a full time or two part-time cooks/cafe coordinators

Hopefully all of our local schools will remain open but if needed, we will provide activity days.  Book in the usual way on 01628 483252 or email bookings@longridge.org.uk

Cost: £18.00 for 8.45am to 3.30pm (bring own lunch)

         £22.00 for 8.45am to 3.30pm (we provide lunch)

         £35.00 for 8.45am to 5.30pm (lunch included)

 

 

 

 

If your child's school is closed we will have an activity day available

Check out our amazing Women's Quad, racing to victory in the recent Marlow Head via this video on You Tube:

 

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUADxmJaLx4&feature=youtube_gdata_playe

At recent Marlow Head

You simply need to call us on 01628 483252 or email bookings@longridge.org.uk and let us know which course you would like and how much you want to spend and we will send you a fantastic gift voucher.

Gift Vouchers available for all of our courses

Monday 10^th  October

9.45am – 6-week climbing courses starts

Lots of availability for most activities at most times!

Tuesday 11^th  October

Rowing sessions for up to 8 people at 12.30 and 14.00 for £40

Wednesday 12^th  October

Sportivate Fencing course starts, 6-week course is £30

Adults Fencing course starts, 6-week course is £60

Thursday 13^th  October

Rowing sessions for up to 8 people all day for £40

Lots of availability for most activities at most times!  So could create an activity day, say 3 activities from 09.45 for groups of 6 or more people for £8 per person

Friday14th October

All full up….

Saturday 15^th  

RYA Safety Boat 2-day course

BCU Open Canoe Assessment
BCU FRST course

Sunday 16^th October

All full up…..

Half-Term Week

Activity Days – every week day from 9am to 4pm (can be extended if needed)

Rowing - 2-day beginners rowing course Tuesday/Wednesday & Thursday/Friday

RYA Sailing beginners course Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday

 

Also, would you help with the following?

Longridge is one of the 5,822 charities that have applied for funding from Natwest as part of their Community Force programme, which asks for people to vote for the charities that they would most like to receive the support.  We would really like you to vote for Longridge.

To do this, please visit natwest.com/communityforce and search for Longridge and register your email address and vote for either both of or one of our projects – you get 3 votes so voting for both would be great!!.

I hope you can help and maybe even spread the word amongst your friends and family?

And for half-term....

Longridge is one of the 5,822 charities that have applied for funding from Natwest as part of their Community Force programme, which asks for people to vote for the charities that they would most like to receive the support.  We would really like you to vote for Longridge.

To do this, please visit natwest.com/communityforce and search for Longridge and vote.

If we are successful we plan to use the money to buy the materials to refurbish our volunteer accommodation and perhaps improve out paths.

I hope you can help and maybe even spread the word amongst your friends and family?

 

In the NatWest Community Force programme.

 Last Minute Offers for week 3^rd October

 

Monday 3^rd October

9.45am – 6-week climbing courses starts

 

Tuesday 4^th October

Rowing sessions for up to 8 people at 12.30 and 14.00 for £40

 

Wednesday 5^th October

Sportivate Fencing course starts, 6-week course is £30

Rowing sessions for up to 8 people at 12.30 £40

 

Thursday 6^th October

Rowing sessions for up to 8 people at 09.45 for £40

3 activities from 09.45 for groups of 6 or more people for £8 per person

Friday 7^th October

Final Ladies Day of the year, 3 activities and lunch for £20.00

 

Saturday 8^th

RYA Sailing 2-day course (adults)

 

Sunday 9^th October

Family Activity Day of 3 activities from 11am for £10 per person

 

 

 

Last Minute Offers for week 3rd October

In response to popular demand our next Ladies Day will be on FRIDAY 7th October.

Three activities starting at 9.45am and finishing by 2.30pm for £20, which includes lunch.

At the moment the activities are dragon boating, climbing and kayaking but these may change nearer the time.  If so, will let you know.

To book, email bookings@longridge.org.uk or call us on 01628 483252

In response to popular demand our next Ladies Day will be on a FRIDAY

Longridge is running another open day for everybody on 25th September to come along to the centre and try out a range of out adventurous outdoor activities.  An ideal way to try something new before committing to one of our courses, and see the centre.

Follow this link to book online or if you don't fancy such an adrenaline fueled day, just pop down, enjoy the excitement and entertainment of watching others while having a coffee from the cafe!

Another date, and another chance to try the exciting activities we have on offer.

Just heard that the school visiting us tomorrow won’t be able to due to staffing issues.  This gives us an unexpected completely free day from 9.30am to 2.00pm.  So, we are throwing open our doors and saying come down to try one of the following sports at the following times and we won’t charge but will ask instead that you to make a donation towards putting heating in our training centre.

09.30 – Dragon Boating

09.30 – Climbing

09.30 – Kayaking

09.30 – Water Orbs

09.30 - Swing

 

11.00 – Kayaking

11.00 – Climbing

11.00 – Dragon Boating

11.00 – Swing

 

12.30 – Kayaking

12.30 – Dragon Boating

12.30 – Climbing

12.30 – Water Orbs

As it is so close, we won’t take bookings just show up at Reception and you can have a go – first come, first pick of activities..  We may even make enough money to put heating in – never know!

 bookings@longridge.org.uk  :  01628 483252

Kayaking - Climbing - Water Orbs available from 9.30am

Looks as though David will be coming past Longridge

There is still however availability throughout the day - either pop in or give us a call on 01628 483252 and we can book you on to something.

See you later

Online ticket sales are now closed

We have the following Last Minute offers for this week 22^nd – 29^th August. 

The Activity Sessions are offered at a 50% discount which roughly equates to: £40 per session for all activities other than the Go Karts which is £30.  The courses are offered at a 20% discount.

To run a session you need to find the following (minimum – maximum) numbers of people.

Kayaking (2 – 8) : Canoeing (2 - 8) : Climbing (6 – 12) : Bell Boating (6 – 10) : Water Orbs (2 – 12) : Go Karts (2 – 12) : Giant Swing (8* – 12)

*Needed to pull, so don’t have to swing!

 

Monday 20th 

18.30 - kayaking, canoeing, bell boating, rafting, water orbs, climbing

 

Tuesday

18.30 - kayaking, canoeing, bell boating, rafting, water orbs, climbing

Rowing 2-day Introduction Course – 1 space

BCU Paddle Power Passport 2-day course – 1 space

Holiday Activity Day – 2 spaces

Family Activity Day – 3 spaces

 

Wednesday

18.30 - kayaking, canoeing, bell boating, rafting, water orbs, climbing

Holiday Activity Day – 9 spaces

 

Thursday

18.30 - canoeing, kayaking, bell boat, climbing, water orbs  

20:00 - canoeing, kayaking, bell boat, climbing, water orbs, go karts, giant swing

Rowing Taster Session – 3 spaces

Family Activity Day – 8 spaces

 

Friday

12.30 + - Rowing

Family Activity Day – 8 spaces

Rowing Taster Session – 1 space

Holiday Activity Day – 4 spaces

 

Saturday / Sunday

From 14.30 there is availability in kayaking, Water Orbs, bell boating, Giant Swing

 

Bank Holiday Monday

-       Family Open Day –book online www.longridge.org.uk/events

 

For everything else, book via bookings@longridge.org.uk or call 01628 483252

Last Minute activity offers for week commencing 22nd August...

We are having an Open Day on Monday August 29^th.

 

From our website you can choice an activity and book on.

 

Follow this link to find out more and book your activity tickets.

 

Hope to see you here on 29^th.

 

Tickets now on sale for 29th August

We are holding our last Ladies Day for 2011 on September 12th and really hope to make this even more successful than our midsummer Ladies Day, for which we have received wonderful feedback like this from Nicki

"Thank you for a fabulous ladies day today. I signed up as something I felt I ought to do rather than wanted to do and just had the most brilliant time. Doing the leap of faith and climbing wall were acts of sheer determination and the kayaking was fabulous fun. All the instructors were very supportive and entertaining and all the ladies bonded with each other and were so encouraging of each other to achieve their own goals - I just left on such a high - to reluctantly go back to normal life......!"

If you would like to have some fun and challenge yourself to try something new, then book via our Bookings Team as below.  The day will start at 9.45 (booking in from 9.15) and the last activity will finish at 2.30pm. The £20 charge includes 3 activities and a baguette lunch.

Hope you can join us and help make September 12th a day to remember.

bookings@longridge.org.uk

01628 483252 ext 200

We are holding another and final Ladies Day for 2011 on September 12th

Come along to try out 3 of our activities, enjoy lunch in our Cafe and have some giggles with new and old friends.  Days starts at 9.45am and will finish by 2.30pm.

Book via our Bookings Team on 01628 483252 ext 200 or email bookings@longridge.org.uk

21st June is Ladies Day at Longridge

Apologies if you have had issues getting through to us our phones have been down for 48-hours and as a result we also lost our Broadband!  Phones are now working but still no broadband, as TalkTalk assumed we had cancelled the service (go figure) so are not able to access emails. 

We are working on a temporary solution with our very lovely knights in shining armour at Shinytastic and O2, so should have email back up by tomorrow.

Because we were on a server based email system, it means that we will have lost ALL emails sent to us from Tuesday 17th until service is restored.  So if you emailed during this time, please re-send, we are really not ignoring you.

We have set up a temporary email address of - longridgemagic@gmail.com

Fingers crossed we are back up into full operation shortly, will post a note here when fully operational again.

Phones back up but no Internet

Longridge is throwing open it's doors to all everybody on May 2nd to come along to the centre and try out our 20 adventurous outdoor activities.  An ideal way to try something new before committing to one of our courses and to see our new visitor accommodation and conference centre.

Follow this link to book tickets or if you don't fancy an adventurous bank holiday, just come down on the 2nd and enjoy our beautiful setting with a cream tea from our Ridge Cafe.

Longridge is throwing open it's doors to all everybody on May 2nd

from Longridge on courses, activity days and everything else, then please email bookings@longridge-uk.org and put in the subject title LastMinute and we will then put your email address on our email distribution list.

If you would like to receive last minute offers

This weekend we are offering everybody the chance to come down for a day of activities for only £10.00 per person for THREE activities.

Saturday & Sunday Programme

10.30 – 11.45 - Activity 1

12.15 – 13.30 - Activity 2

Break for lunch – bring a picnic or purchase a sandwich from our Café

14.30 – 15.45 - Activity 3

Good weather forecast for this weekend, particularly on Sunday; so we would expect to offer on both days at least two water activities and one land activities.  What activities we offer depends on how many people book to come along as some activities we can only run with minimum numbers, so the more people that book, the more activities we can offer!

If you would like to come down on either Saturday or Sunday and enjoy our beautiful setting and try out 3 of our activities, give us a call on 01628 483252 or email bookings@longridge-uk.org 

Hope to see you here this weekend

 

£10.00 per person for 3 activities this weekend

On 29th April, our patron, Steve Backshall will be at Longridge with some animal friends.

Steve fronts the BBC kid's series 'Deadly 60' and travels the world to learn about the most inspiring predators from boxing mantis shrip to charging tigers.  Over the Autumn last year, Steve toured the UK with the Live and Deadly Roadshow, a campaign to get kids outdoors and involved with wildlife and conservation and it is a slightly smaller version of this roadshow that Steve is bringing to Longridge on April 29th.

Steve is a passionate supporter of Longridge, as a keen kayaker himself, he has seen first hand the benefits of sport for young people and is supporting Longridge by helping us raise money to complete the refurbishment of our accommodation and we are hoping that with your support we will on the 29th April raise the final £10k that is needed to complete this much needed facility.

So come down on the 29th, enjoy our activities, meet Steve and his animal friends and at the same time support Longridge.

You can buy tickets for our activities by following this link and you will be asked for a donation to have your photograph taken with Steve and an animal friend.

 

On 29th April, our patron, Steve Backshall will be at Longridge with some animal friends.

Andy is a volunteer Kayak coach at Longridge and Marlow Canoe Club.  He is also fulfills the voluntary role of Regional Coaching Officer for the BCU, which sees him training future coaches.  As a result of these commitiments, Andy volunteers a huge amount of his time to develop kayaking for young and old in our community and is a very worthy recipient of the Award, which was presented by Countess Howe, High Sheriff of Bucks to Andy at a ceremony last week, with a citation read by Amanda Foister, who talked about Andy's generous support of Longridge and the part he has played in the centre's development and growth.

Andy is a volunteer Kayak coach and RCO for the BCU

Apart from that making him a massive show-off, it is a stunning view.  if you would like to see for yourself the same view - give us a call and if yours is a Corporate visit (which we totally love as your visit underwrites our work with young people - which means you have fun, create a stronger team and are supporting a charity, all at the same time!!).  Give Mark a call and get him down from the top of the Swing.  016289 483252 x 208

Mark sent me this photograph from his phone at the top of the Giant Swing

Follow this link to book and find out how to enjoy our activities on Friday evenings throughout the summer....

Our Adult Activity Evenings start again in May

Yoga Classes

As requested, we are now running 90-minute yoga classes on both Friday and Saturday mornings from 10am to 11.30am.  We are trialing this as a monthly class, with home practice being given in-between.  Each session is £12.00.  The class is run by the, I am told internationally renowned teacher, Jane Aldiss.  More importantly she is a very warm, funny woman who I’ve worked with for decades and highly recommend for her understanding of how our bodies work, or more often – don’t work!

Fencing Courses

Next junior and adult courses start 27th April for 6-weeks.  Club sessions have started and run every Saturday from 10am to 11am and are bookable on our website – www.longridge-uk.org

Easter Holidays

In addition to our school holiday courses, we are running Activity Days for young people 8 years and over, every week day of the School Holidays, the day starts at 8.45am and finishes at 5.45pm.  Earlier starts and later finishes are available on application.  We also have Family Activity Days and Family Short Breaks on 9/10^th April.  So lots of opportunities to come along and enjoying our range of activities.

Kayaking Club & Courses

Club sessions start in April

Tuesdays from 09.45 / 11.15 / 18.30 - adults

Wednesday from 18.30 – juniors

Sundays from 16.15 - families

Club sessions are booked via our website – www.longridge-uk.org

Courses for April are:

BCU Paddle Power Passport (8 – 14 years old).  The first part of the BCU paddling syllabus

11/12^th April  :  13/14^th April  :  18/19^th April  :  30^th April / 1^st May 

Or after-school from 16.30 – 17.45, starting on either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday the week of the 25^th April for 8-weeks

BCU Paddle Power Discover (8 – 14 year olds).  The second part of the BCU paddling syllabus

11/15^th April or after school from 18.30 on 26^th and 28^th April for 8-weeks

BCU 1-star (14+, fits into the GSCE syllabus for this subject)

5/6^th April  :  30^th April/1^st May

In the evening, starting 19^th April and 21^st April 20.00 – 21.15.  However, if we get a lot of younger people booked on we could consider also running this course just for teenagers from 18.30.  Let us know if this would be your preference.

BCU 2-Star (14+)

In the evening, starting 19^th April and 21^st April 20.00 – 21.15.  However, if we get a lot of younger people booked on we could consider also running this course exclusively for teenagers from 18.30.  Let us know if this would be your preference

Rowing Club & Courses

Club

Sessions run onTuesdays, Fridays, Saturday and Sundays and all sessions you can book via our website – www.longridge-uk.org

Courses

Next adult course starts 10^th May from 09.45am – although if we get enough interest for an alternative date/time, we will certainly look at creating another course.  So let us know if you can’t do then, when you can do and we can try and make it happen.

Junior Courses are running as follows:

11/12^th April  :  31^st May/1^st June  :  28/29^th July  :  11/12^th August

And after-school starting week of 18^th April.

To book on any of the above courses, contact our bookings team by email bookings@longridge-uk.org or call 01628 483252. We have a automated calling system being installed tomorrow, so press 1 to get through to bookings or extension 204 to get through to me.

I hope you will come down and visit us soon, if you visit in the next few days our reception has moved to the house in the carpark – we are a bit difficult to find at the moment as lacking signs, so don’t feel put off if you can’t see us straight away, hopefully we will have signs soon and the fence removed so we are immediately visible.

There is lots going on in April and May at Longridge.  By the end of April our new accommodation should be ready and in addition to this sparkly new building, we are looking to fund PODS, which are little mini eco-lodges, very cute and snuggly and ideal for a short family break.  We are officially opening the new accommodation, called Softcat Rooms (after our main sponsor, who allowed this project to go ahead – although we are still seeking a further £8k in funding to complete it) on April 29^th, which is our first Open Day, the second being on the following bank holiday Monday – 2^nd May.  You may book individual activities on either day, with prices starting at a £1, on our website – www.longridge-uk.org.  We hope to announce in the next week or so, that we will have a VERY special guest with us on the 29^th April, so watch this space and the news feed on our website for further details.  If we manage to tempt him along for a visit, I may well become the most popular person in the area ……

See you all here very soon I hope.

 

Activity starting in April

We have a rather lovely opportunity but need money to realize it.

For those of you that have used our accommodation recently you will know that it is, to be polite, rather tired!  Pragmatically it is not big enough, badly laid, out and just not as good as we would want.  

We have always assumed that we would need to build a new accommodation block for our visitors, so not really looked at starting this in the near future, as a brand new accommodation block to provide the necessary minimum of 40 beds would be £400k plus!  A little outside our budget at the moment.  However a series of events have collided to give us a rather elegant and cost effective solution which will create 40 lovely beds for our visitors, all the bedrooms with en-suite toilets and a fully equipped self-catering area/lounge.  All of this for only £60,000 and we have already raise £15,000.  

Can you help raise the rest?

The downside is this will need to be achieved in the next week!  

So we have 7-days to raise £45,000.  Impossible task do you think?  

The colliding events are, Ridgeview the house that is on the site has become vacant and would make a perfect office.  So we move the office into the house, which given that the old toilets are no longer used means the entire reception block can be converted into accommodation.  We have had this project costed before, but the costs where over £100k and just not worth it.  However, by chance we met with a very reputable local builder who has offered to refurbish the reception block into accommodation for a fraction of other quotes we have had. As they are between jobs – their next job starts in April – so might as well be doing something and what better to be doing than supporting Longridge.

We are almost certainly looking for the impossible but wouldn’t it be great if we could get this done for this summer and take advantage of this rather unique opportunity.

If you can help or have any ideas – please give me a call on 07540 411779 or email me Amanda.foister@longridge-uk.org

Help us create new visitor accommodation.....

27^th & 28^th April 2011 - £34.00 per pupil for 2-day residential

Looking at term dates we thought that the above dates may be perfect for a residential trip to Longridge – given that most schools are back in school for just these 2-days.  It is also likely that these are going to be quiet days for us and therefore we are offering a 2-day residential with full catering in our newly refurbished indoor accommodation for £34.00 per pupil.  This gives you one night’s indoor accommodation, 3 meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner and 4 activities which will depend on the size of your group and your transport timings.

To book email bookings@longridge-uk.org or call 01628 483252

We are booking up quickly for the summer but should be able to offer some further discounts for last minute bookings – so keep an eye on your email…..

Offer is for 27/28th April 2011

1. Change to Kayak, Rowing and Fencing Club Bookings

To improve efficiency we are booking all club sessions from our website.  In the Activities box  on the homepage of our website, the last entry in the orange menu is ‘Clubs’ by clicking on your club you will be able to follow the links to book and pay for kayaking, fencing and rowing club sessions for February and March via our website. As the website doesn’t yet interface with our booking system (although working on solving this – does anybody know a super doper software developer??); you will ONLY be able to book the sessions via the website.   If you get stuck doing it, call me as others may have the same problem and I can try and simplify the process.  Web address is: www.longridge-uk.org

All courses and bespoke visits will still be booked via our bookings team.

2. YOGA.  We have introduced yoga classes by partnering with the rather impressive senior yoga teacher, Jane Aldiss.  Jane will be running master class sessions monthly and setting home practice for the weeks in between.  I’ve been a fan of Janes’ for many years but with her based in Norfolk it has been a bit of a trek to get to her.  So am delighted to have finally tempted her with our new training centre to come to Marlow to run her amazing masterclasses.  The Friday before her classes, she will be giving private sessions.  As Jane is not only a yoga teacher but an anatomy and physiology expert, she is brilliant at diagnosing and creating solutions for muscular and joint difficulties.  She has testimonies a mile long but from personal experience I recommend her very highly – she solved my frozen shoulder in hours, saving me from a doctor prescribed operation.  Full details of these classes are on our website and you can book and pay from them using our new web system, follow this link to find out more and book.
3. Climbing.  This Monday, 6 unexpected spaces have become available on our climbing course.  The course runs 4.30pm to 5.45pm and costs £40.00 for an 8-week course, book this in the usual way via our bookings team: bookings@longridge-uk.org

New booking process for clubs and Yoga comes to Longridge.

Book now at bookings@longridge-uk.org

6-week Climbing Course starting next Monday from 4.30pm to 5.45pm is only £40.00 for the 6-weeks

We are introducing Fencing at Longridge with an initial 6-week beginners course starting on Wednesday January 12^th from 7pm to 8.15pm in our new Training Centre.

We are delighted that our coach for the course and we hope future courses and if we get the interest a club is Jacqueline Faulkner.  Jacqueline started fencing 25 years ago, as well as coaching in schools, she has coached at Salle Eton and Newbury Fencing Club, and at the well established Wellesbourne Sword Club since 1995. Jacqueline is a British Fencing Association registered coach, qualified to teach foil and epee from beginner to advanced level and is one of the core coaches for the Under 19’s Southern Region British Fencing team.

Jacqueline will be providing the coaching and equipment, so spaces are limited to 12 and are open to all ages.

Costs for the 6-week course are £50.00 and places may be booked by emailing bookings@longridge-uk.org or calling our bookings team on 01628 483252

In January we are introducing Fencing with a new 6-week beginners course.

We have been absolutely delighted to have been a part of the Sports Unlimited Programme from Sports England for the last 3-years, through which we have introduced thousands of young people to a new sport.

All good things must come to an end and Sports Unlimited ends this year, but we have one final course to deliver, the climbing course that starts on the 17th January, which because of the funding support will only cost £60.00 for the full 10-weeks - places are limited, so please book in soon.

The good news is that the Sports Unlimited programme is being replaced with a 2012 legacy funding programme, full details of what we will be able to offer as part of this programme will follow in the New Year, if our bid for support under this programme is successful - keep your fingers crossed.

Starts Monday 17th January for 10-weeks from 4.30pm to 5.45pm.

Over half-term we are running the following activities:

Activity Days

every day from 09.00- 04.00, giving young people an opportunity to enjoy 4 of our activities for £35.00 per person, including lunch.

Family Activity Days

give all the family a chance to enjoy 3 of our activities together from 10.00 - 16.00 for £13.00 per person

24th October, 20th October and 31st October,

Rowing Course

2 day course from 10am - 14.00 giving an introduction to rowing, £70.00 per person

28th/29th October

And then after half-term we still have space on the following after-school courses:

Activity Club

6-week course giving the opportunity to have a go at all of our land activities.

Starting Monday 1st November and running 18.30 - 19.45

Climbing Course

every week for 6-weeks extending climbing skills, using our climbing wall and ropes course

Tuesday 2nd November 16.30 - 17.45

Wednesday 3rd November 16.30 - 17.45 (this is a 5-week course)

Thursday 4th November 16.30 - 17.45

Saturday 6th November 10.00 - 11.15

Sunday 7th November 10.00 -11.15

To book, contact our bookings team on 01628 483252 or email bookings@longridge-uk.org

And don't forget that on November 6th is our awesome firework display, for which tickets are now on sale on our website by following this link.

 

Follows information on all of our up and coming activities and courses

We want to make the best of the weather and fill the last few available days, so are offering £8.50 per pupil Activity Days during September on the following days. You wont get quite as much choice as normal on these days but we can still guarantee you a day full of outdoor, adventurous fun activities.

If you would like to look at another day, let us know and we will do our very best to accommodate what you are looking for.

September £8.50 day of 3 activities

Tuesday 7th September

Wednesday 8th September

Thursday 9th September

September £10.00 a day of 3 activities

Monday 20th September

Tuesday 21st September

Remember, during October all School Activity Days start at £10.00 per pupil and even if you pick our most labour intensive activities will never cost more than £20.00 per pupil.

Lastly, if you haven't already - consider entering a team of pupils into our

Dragon Boat Championships on September 25th - email if you would like a booking form.

Weather forecast is for a lovely sunny September, making it an ideal time for schools to bring a group of pupils here to enjoy our water and land activities.

Bucks Sport Awards 2010

NOMINATE NOW! Bucks Sport Awards celebrate and honour the amazing work carried out every day by volunteers and coaches across the county.

We welcome nominations in the following 9 categories

Coach of the Year
Young Leader of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Club of the Year
Sports Project  of the Year

School of the Year
Workplace of the Year

NEW! Community Challenge
Unsung Hero

The search for sport's Unsung Heroes is taking place not only in Bucks but across the United Kingdom.  Winners of the Bucks Sport Coach, Volunteer and Unsung Hero Awards will be nominated for the BBC South Awards. 

Nomination Process
Nominations can be made via the online nomination form on the Bucks Sport website. Please note that self nominations will not be considered for individual awards. Attached to assist you are the criteria for each award. 

The closing date for submitting nominations is Monday 11th October 2010 .

All the information can be found on our website. www.buckssport.org

Bucks Sport Awards 2010 NOMINATE NOW! Bucks Sport Awards celebrate and honour the amazing work carried out every day by volunteers and coaches across the county.

In the meantime there is a pdf you can download a pdf by following this link.

Is at the printers and will be available shortly.

The ground floor of our new Training Centre is now finished and from Monday will be available for everybody to use; so no more having to make do with tiny showers, dirty changing rooms and constantly breaking toilets. Our new facilities have plenty of room, are sparkly clean and all round are very beautiful indeed - we couldn't be prouder of this new very valuable resource.

Fundraising continues for the money necesary to complete the top floor and provide us with some rather stunning training rooms, as well as things like lockers and benches for the ground floor. With my fingers tightly crossed I am hopeful we might achieve this by next summer.

Once the Training Centre is complete we will turn our attentions to the other areas that need updating, the carpark being the most urgent and updating our infrastructure. It will be a chilly winter for the staff as in order to power the new block we lose heating in the other buildings - the cost to increase our gas supply is outrageous! We would also like to build a youth centre, with club rooms for our growing youth club, rowing and kayaking clubs and a boardwalk so that our rowers and marathon kayakers have a more pleasant journey from the boat racks to the pontoons. The final piece of the jigsaw will be to update all the paths and build a floating accommodation block - but doubt this will all be done by next summer! We will aim to complete the Training Centre though.

and will be open to everybody to use from Monday.

Let's hope we can raise the £60k we need to complete the building by then!

To complete the building we need:

£10,000 for the floor

£20,000 for internal walls

£20,000 for heating

£10,000 for furniture

Any ideas?  If so email amanda.foister@longridge-uk.org

Cabinet Minister to open our Training Centre on September 24th

Because of the holidays, it will be a little disjoined until September but follows the next course dates:

12th August 14.00 - 15.30

1st September 10.30 - 11.45

3rd September 10.30 - 11.45

6th September 19.00 - 20.15

From then on Adult Club Sessions will run on:

Mondays 19.00 - 20.15

Wednesdays 10.30 - 11.45

Thursdays 10.30 - 11.45

Fridays 10.30 - 11.45

You are welcome to book on any/all of these sessions.

We have started an Adult Rowing Club

Sir Matthew Pinsent and Pete Reed came to Longridge to launch the campaign with the help of Longridge Rowing Club and Wye Valley School.

Follow this link to see the video

We are taking part in the Nestle Get Set campaign, giving everybody the chance to try out new sports.

Follow this link to see Photos taken at our Open Day

Our photographer took loads of pictures at our Family Activity Day, follow this link to see them.

by following this link

You can view photographs taken at our Splash Challenge

In total 42 athletes took part, the youngest Matteo Gaster was awarded a special prize for a breathtaking run with his Dad - who only just managed to keep up - the other category winners were as follows.  Pictures will be uploaded onto our website later this week.

U16s winner: Dan Edwards,  runner up: Jemima Pennant

16-25 male winner: Tom Gault

16-25 female winner: Lauren Gault

25+ male winner: Mark Bird, runner up: Bret Dean

25+ female winner: Lauren Gault, runner up: Victoria Barber

With glorious weather and lots of smiling runners the Splash Challenge 2010 could only be a great success

In a rather smaller and environmental way, via pedal Go Karts. Book now to use our Brands Hatch inspired track.....

Last year, with a generous grant of £12,000 from The Stewards’ Charitable Trust, rowing was introduced as a new sport at the Longridge Activity centre in Marlow.  The idea being to make rowing accessible and affordable as a sport for all young people to participate in and the demand proved to be overwhelming, far exceeding Longridge’s expectations.  The demand for the after-school courses led to the Longridge Rowing Club being created, the club gained British Rowing accreditation this month and is running the first club session on March 21st. 

As it is hugely exciting to be launching a new rowing club for young people in the area,  Olympic gold medallist Zac Purchese has agreed to coach this first session as Zac says “I am passionate about all young people having the same access to rowing and the sports opportunities that I had, I will be watching the club develop with great interest and fully expect to see future champions emerging from the Longridge Rowing Club”.  Zac will be joined at this first session by another Olympic Gold medallist and President of Longridge Rowing Club, Greg Searle OBE.  Greg was approached to be President as since the charity took over the centre he has been hugely supportive of Longridge and proactively encouraged the team in the development of rowing as a new sport.  With such a winning team at the helm of the club – it will surely inspire many future generations of young people to enjoy the river and rowing.

Club sessions will run weekly both after school at over the weekends throughout the year.

The club is recruiting for committee members, in particular fundraising expertise and Longridge Rowing Club chairman, Richard Nissen says “we are all delighted by the demand for rowing in the area and just hope that we can raise the money for more boats and equipment to cope with the demand for rowing from young people; we are particularly keen to raise the money to purchase some indoor rowing machines so that we can run the club effectively throughout the year”

Details of the club and after-school courses can be found under rowing on this site

Are getting behind the newly launched Longridge Rowing Club, to help create a fully accessible rowing club for young people.

Bob remains a very popular boat but he doesn't match our existing boat and as we have received funding from Sport England for a matching boat, relunctantly have to sell Bob to a new loving, even adoring home!

If you would like to buy Bob and provide him with a good home, then please email phil.rush@longridge-uk.org

We are selling Bob our full-sized 20 seat Dragon Boat

Longridge Needs a New Flag

We have a flag pole but it is bare.  We don’t want to just flutter our logo, instead we want something different – something original that sums up all that we do here.  Adventure – Fun – Different – Exciting.

So, we thought we would set all the young people that visit us the challenge of designing a flag.  If you have a young person that may be interested, you can download an application form here?

The application form asks young people to submit their designs to Amanda Foister, with the winner being able to bring a group of 10 friends to take part in one of our activities and come along to the opening of our Training Centre, when we will hoist the flag.

It costs nothing to enter and the competition is open to all senior school pupils.

AND………………………

Design a Party Invite

 At Longridge we provide brilliant birthday parties that give young people a chance to try one or more of our activities with their friends and have a birthday tea in our café.  This year we will have birthday party coordinators and gazebos but what we won’t have is an invitation that the birthday person can use to invite their friends.

Would you know a young person that would like to design us a birthday party invite?  If so, you can download an application form here?

The winner will be able to have a birthday party at Longridge for up to 12 friends (not including the tea).

It costs nothing to enter and the competition is open to all primary school pupils.

  

Design a Flag or Party Invite and win an activity at Longridge

After school courses starting soon : Kayaking, Rowing & Triathlon.

For the third (and possibly final) year we have received funding from Sports England to provide affordable after school activities to young people within the counties of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

As this could potentially be the last year we are able to offer these courses at the part-funded price, we hope to make this our busiest year ever and see hundreds of young people take up a place and then go on to join one of our clubs to sustain their experience.　 If you are planning to take advantage of this package, contact should be made with us early, in order for you to attain your preferred course dates and avoid disappointment.

The courses are suitable for young people of 8 - 16 years, no experience or specialist equipment is required.

The kayaking courses will run every week day, rowing on a Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Triathlon on a Monday.　 Week day courses will be 4.30pm to 5.45pm and weekend courses 14.30 to 15.45.　 All the courses will be for 10 weeks and each session will last for 75-minutes and be on an 6:1 ratio with one of our qualified instructors, the part-funded cost is only £40.00.

Rowing courses start week of:　 2nd March 2010

Kayaking courses start week of: 26th April 2010

Triathlon course starts week of: 26th April 2010

As you are probably aware, here at Longridge we host a array of different sporting activities which are proven to nurture many core skills needed for a young person’s development, including: social skills, confidence building, technique, new skills and not to mention, fitness. All of this in a centre accredited by RYA (Royal Yacht Association) and recognised by the BCU (British Canoe Union) and AALA (Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority) and we are working towards accreditation for our club from British Rowing.

The Sports Unlimited courses also give you the opportunity to gain vocational qualifications. At the end of the course you will achieved either a British Canoe Union (BCU) Paddlesports or BCU 1-star certificate in kayaking or be able to power a single scull in rowing.

If you have any queries or would like to know more, please get in touch with our bookings team by phone on 01628 483252 or by emailing

bookings@longridge-uk.org.

Kelly Ritchie

Bookings Coordinator

Which provide part-funding for after-school activities for young people at Longridge.

We are delighted that the British Triathlon Federation have provided coaches to enable Longridge create a Triathlon Club and if there is interest run some after-school Triathlon courses.

 

Triathlon is the UK's fastest growing sport and involves - running, swimming and cycling!

 

The BTF are funding sessions for young people from 8 - 18 to 'Dare to' give it a try on FEBRUARY 20th at Longridge. Sessions will run at 10am - 12noon - 2pm and we will have enough coaches and equipment to offer spaces to 36 young people each session.

 

If you are able to come along, drop me an email with the name of your young person and I will reply with a kit list - amanda.foister@longridge-uk.org

Triathlon Club at Longridge - Open Day on February 20th.

The swing which is the an amazing adrenline rush was opened admist the snow in front of the Longridge Team by Zac and Kelly, our bookings coordinator, being hoisted up by the rest of the Longridge Team.

Before we risked an GB Olympian, we did put some Guinea Pigs on the swing, in the shape of Caroline Meechan, one of our Trustees and our fundraiser, Heidi Nugent.

All hugely enjoyed the experience and recommend it to all ages, shapes and sizes as the ultimate thrill.  So book now to have your go.  To see video and further pictures visit Longridge 's FaceBook or the videos page on this website.

Our 14m Giant Team Swing was opened today by Olympic gold medalist, Zac Purchase

Our 2010 brochure is now ready.  If you would like a hard copy, please get in touch and we will with pleasure post one or more out to you.  But in the meantime you can download a pdf here.

Our website has been updated with 2010 information and we will regularly add details of new courses, events and activities.  In November we start building our rather fabulous giant 13m team swing, as well as constructing our Go-Kart track and we now have giant spheres for use on our large paddling pool - all will be bookable by January, hopefully earlier for the spheres and Go-Karts.

Building has started of our new changing room and loo block and should be complete by June of next year, giving us beautiful and spacious changing rooms, showers and toilets on the ground floor and training rooms above.  Expect to receive information about the grand opening in 2010!

We have also been granted planning permission to improve the carpark layout and building a new visitor centre and club rooms - fundraising for these projects is underway and when we have raised the £500,000 necessary building will commence, hopefully over the winter next year.   We will update our website regularly with news of our progress, if you have any fundraising ideas or any time to give to the campaign, we are always grateful of help.

The best support you can give to Longridge is by using the centre and all of us at Longridge hope to see you here in 2010 and as always if you don't see exactly what you are looking for in our brochure or website, get in touch and we will do our very best to make what you want happen.

Our 2010 brochure is now ready. If you would like a hard copy, please get in touch and we will with pleasure post one or more out to you.

A full day training course for ‘old scheme’ Level 2 and Trainee Level 3 coaches who wish to transfer to the new UKCC-endorsed BCU Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport qualification.

Participants will end the day with a personal action plan enabling them to complete the Level 2 Candidate Workbook and Assessment Portfolio evidencing their skills and experience in preparation for the new Level 2 assessment.

Pre-requisites: in addition to holding minimum BCU Level 2 Coach in one discipline candidates will be required also to:

• Hold 2 Star in both Open Canoe and Kayak (or the new 2 Star or Paddle Power Discover Award)
• Have a 3 Star certificate in any discipline (for boat-based coaches)
• Provide evidence of relevant safety training (FSRT or CST)
• Have registered through their Home Nation coaching office using the CR Form and received the Level 2 Candidate Pack
• Have completed and submitted the pre-course tasks (detailed in the candidate pack).

Further information on the new Level 2 is available at http://www.canoe-england.co.uk/coaching/bcu-qualification-courses/.

Fees and costs: there is no cost for training which is being fully grant-aided through BCU Southern Region/SkillsActive South East, candidates are asked only to make a £15 contribution to the venue costs (plus the BCU Awarding Level 2 registration fee of £39).

Location:         Longridge, Quarry Wood Road, Marlow, SL7 1RE 

Time/date:      09:00 - 17:00 Sunday 01 November 2009

Equipment:      Personal coaching/paddling and safety equipment

Catering:         Tea/coffee will be provided. Please bring a packed lunch

Cost:                £15 payable in advance (cheques to BCU Southern Region)

To book your place, please download and complete the form linked here and return with payment to:

Andy Maxted, RCO BCU Southern Region, 5 Keble Road, Maidenhead, SL6 6BB

Tel: 07730 852760
Email: rco.southernregion@bcu.org.uk

BCU LEVEL 2 TRANSFER MODULE Longridge, Marlow Sunday 01 November 2009

As always we will almost certainly add new dates as required, so if what you are looking for isn't there - let us know and if we can we will create something for you.

Prices for activities and facilities are remaining the same as for this year and our 2010 brochure will be ready to be sent out October, so if you don't get a copy and want one send us your postal address or fill in the form here and a 2010 brochure will be sent out.

 

We have created most of courses for 2010 and dates are now on our website and you can book in the usual way.

We are delighted that this team have joined the GB Women's Rowing and GB Sprint Kayaking teams as selecting Longridge as their training ground.  To find out more about the team visit www.gbopendragons.com 

 

Training at Longridge

Paddle with GB freestlye team member Chris “Pikey” Bucksey on the best stretch of water on the Thames. You’ll have 2days packed full of fun where you will see yourself learn the basic strokes and concepts on day one along with playing many games. Then be putting your skill straight in to use paddling the weirs right on Longridges doorstep.on day two. Your even get the chance to learn how to roll.

You will be using the latest gear so you start off with looking the part helping you feel like a true paddler. Evenings will be filled with dinner an activity and possibly a paddling DVD, topped off with a bonfire.

Who thought you could have all this fun and  still be doing something good for a great cause. Yes all money for this course is going towards Longridge and its projects.

Pikey has this to say. “I did 2 day clinics while in Canada and loved them, you get to really see a big difference in people paddling. Plus I’m always on a mission to show people the light when it comes to white water kayaking and this is the quickest way to get people addicted. If your just after a pure challenge or to really see what all the fun about kayaking is this is a great way to do it. So if your game and after a few giggles, (mostly on my expense) then please come join me and help Longridge.”

2 day course for 4 people £170pp
2 day course for 6 people £150pp

To book email: Chris Bucksey [pikeyuk@hotmail.com]

Want to get the most out of paddling the River Thames and help Longridge at the same time?

Our coach and boats has encouraged Bucks Sport to offer us funding to provide after-school rowing courses, starting September which will compliment the private coaching sessions we are also offering.  Next step, is to set up our own Rowing Club and then of course win everything!!  So if you rowed before and want to try again, or have rowed in the gym and fancy trying the real thing or have never rowed but always wanted to - now is your chance.  Suitable for all ages, shapes and abilities - over the age of around 12 up to 112!

We now have our own rowing and sculling boats, as well as a ARA Level 3 coach.

We have started a Wednesday evening youth club at Longridge. First evening is Wednesday 24th June and then every Wednesday thereafter. Starts at 6.30pm until 8pm and is aimed at young people in Y10 and above. Full details and forms are on our website at: http://www.longridge-uk.org/youthclub

Family Activity Days and Family Short Break holidays during August, you can find dates under the Families section of this website.

We have also introduced a boat storage facility for kayaks, canoes and rowing/sculling boats - details under boat storage, top right hand corner of this site!

Our cafe is now open much longer hours and if in a rush to get here you have to skip lunch or tea, can provide rather tasty meals.

Keep your suggestions coming.

We are always looking to improve what we do here and welcome suggestions on new activities. As a result of recent suggestions we now offer:

 

Our Bell Boats are super popular with our visitors and it's not surprising for such a fun, lively craft which is also very stable.  Ideal for parties and groups looking to have fun together on the water.

Our existing two are already booked out for most of June and July, so we where very grateful to Marlow Round Table and Cookham Bridge Rotary for helping to raise the money to buy this new addition.

We took delivery of a bright, cheery yellow bell boat last week with thanks to Cookham Bridge Rotary and Marlow Round Table for raising the necessary funds.