News Articles in the category 'Activities'

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

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.

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

Follow this link to see Photos taken at our Open Day

by following this link

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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 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.

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:

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

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 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 

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]

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!

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.

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.