Bristol SU recognises that the costs of participating in student groups can be prohibitively expensive for some students. The Activity Hardship Fund was created to support those students who wouldn't otherwise be able to participate in their chosen activity due to the cost.
About Us
We're a busy and active club, that welcomes anyone to join!
Whether you've never been kayaking before, or have years of experience, we are a club for all. We take part in lots of different paddling including whitewater, canoe polo, playboating, and stand-up paddle boarding. Off the water, we have a variety of weekly socials to get to know each other better!
Most of our weekends are filled with paddling, whether that's whitewater river running or competing in canoe polo tournaments! We are a ten-time Gold Balloon Accredited Club and a Club Evolution Performance Sport Club. And despite our name, we actually kayak not canoe!
We play canoe polo at our very own polo pitch down at Bristol docks, take frequent trips to Cardiff International Whitewater, as well as beginner weekend trips to various rivers throughout Dartmoor, South and North Wales and with the highlight being our annual two-week trip to the French Alps!
Welcome
Welcome to the University of Bristol Canoe Club — we’re so glad you’re interested in joining us!
If you would like to see what we’re all about, sign up to one of our Give it a Go! sessions on our events page, which will be running until October 4th, 2026.
Alternatively, come along to one of our regular pool sessions and try the sport out for free before committing to membership. If you have any questions, drop us an email or DM us on Instagram!
Memberships
Membership Prices 25/2625/26 Year - £45 (£5 discount if you join our club by 13/10/25, the end of our Give It A Go season!)
Single Term - £25
SUP Single Term Membership - £20 (can be upgraded to full member for £25)
Pay As You Go SUP Sessions - £7 each (+£3 membership for first session (for insurance reasons))
All kit is supplied that you need to get onto the water - yes everything!
*In order to attend pool sessions, you will need an SEH Access Pass, this will be automatically applied at the checkout!
Times & Information
Wednesday: 1.45pm - Canoe Polo training - docks (Meet at stores, consult our Polo Sec before attending)
Thursday: 8.15 - 10.00pm - Whitewater skills - pool session (Richmond Building)
Sunday: 6:45 - 8:30pm - Canoe Polo training - pool session (Richmond Building)
We also regularly run Stand-Up-Paddleboarding sessions in the docks!
Our pool sessions take place in the SU Richmond Building. We will have someone in the lobby to greet you during the Give it a Go period!
Our docks sessions take place at the Brunel Lock Pitch on the Avon. Meet at the canoe stores to walk down together!
Weekends usually consist of trips to go whitewater paddling or competing in canoe polo tournaments including BUCS.
What We Do
WHITEWATER
Whitewater kayaking is a sport that hooks you from day one and just keeps getting better - the more you paddle, the more addictive it becomes. Whether you're a seasoned pro or you've never picked up a paddle in your life, come and give it a go with our club!
It's one of the best ways to get outdoors, with club trips heading out to stunning spots in Wales and on Dartmoor. We love paddling whitewater rivers like the Exe, the Dart, the Usk and the Dee, and you'll get the chance to paddle all of them year-round on our day and weekend trips!
Some of our biggest highlights are an extended Easter weekend trip to North Wales and en epic two-week summer expedition to the French Alps.
To turn you into a confident paddler, we run weekly pool sessions every Thursday, where you'll learn everything from boat control and paddle strokes to safety training and the all-important kayak roll. Our club is full of friendly faces who genuinely love helping other learn and improve.
The sessions are relaxed, sociable, and always good fun. Whether you want to learn a new skill, make some new friends or just have a chill time, there is something for everyone!
Training & Development Officer - Hugh Pluckwell (He/Him)
CANOE POLO
Canoe Polo is a high-intensity sport played in teams of five!
There's plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved with polo at uni! We run two training sessions a week for paddlers of all abilities and participate in lots of tournaments throughout the year. For regular fixtures, we play in the South West University Polo League (SWUPL) which is hosted at our own Bristol docks! We have three polo teams that play throughout the year; Ladies & Non-Binary, Open and B team (our beginners team!).
The main event for university polo is BUCS, which is held in Nottingham. Last year, all three teams went to BUCS with the ladies and open teams having a lot of success - placing 7th and 10th respectively!
Polo is great fun and all abilities are welcome - come along and give it a try!
Polo Officer - Sabine Elliot (She/Her)
SUP (Stand-Up Paddle Boarding)
Our stand-up paddleboarding sessions are a brilliant way to get into paddle sport. We meet for sessions at the Richmond Building where are club stores its kit before heading down to Bristol docks. A typical session will include practicing skills in the shelter of the docks, as well as some games and short trips around Bristo Harbour.
Paddleboarding is great fun, and our sessions are very sociable; they're a great way to get to know other members of the club whilst improving balance and coordination! Our sessions are open to absolutely everyone, so whether you're a complete beginner, an expert or somewhere in between, I hope to see you there!
Treasurer - Joseph Ferrier (He/Him)
SOCIALS
Alongside our paddling, there's plenty of fun off the water with our weekly socials! They are a great opportunity to meet and get to know the group in a much more relaxed setting, and are always enjoyed by new members and returns alike. Throughout the year we run a wide range of socials, including classic pub trips, competitive scavenger hunts, climbing nights, and some exclusive canoe club specials, which are everyone's favourite! Whether you're a big party person, or drinking isn't really your thing, there's a place for everyone! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Social Secretaries - Scarlett Wilde (She/Her) and Aidan Booth (He/Him)
The Committee
Sponsors & Partners
(Click on the icons below to find out more)
Contact Us
Send us an email or drop us a DM on our instagram. (Click on the icons for our club communication sites)
Instagram 
Gmail
LinkedIn
FacebookIf you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to message any one of our committee members.
Gallery
Playing Polo in the Alps
Surfing Trip to Woolacoombe
Other Resources
UoBCC Equality Statement
We are committed to providing a friendly and safe environment for all students to be able to participate and excel in kayaking. We will stand up against any form of discrimination, harassment or victimisation that occurs within our club sessions or externally.
We want to make kayaking accessible for all and if you have any suggestions about how we can improve this, please do not hesitate in letting our committee know. As UoBCC, we aim to remove any actual and potential barriers against kayaking and provide equal opportunities to all to enjoy our sport, improve their skills and have fun.
UoBCC Sustainability Statement
Here at UoBCC, we know sustainability is not just about recycling, its about making the world a happy and healthy place; both now and in the future. We try to do our part in minimising the pollution in our waterways to minimise UoBCC's mark on the local area. We are committed to reducing our social, economic and environmental impact both locally and globally. This is why sustainability is one of our core values.
UoBCC Health & Safety:
At UobCC we endeavour to keep our health and safety procedures up to date to minimise the risk of various potential hazards. Our risk assement for 2025/26 is attached below:
Waterborne Disease- If you are at all concerned about having caught a waterborne disease, there is some guidance below on some common signs and symptoms (if you are at all worried make sure you contact your local GP);
Waterborne Illnesses; UK rivers- Clean Rivers Trust
Democracy is important, so:
- Our Captain (or available committee members) will attend Student Council/Annual Members Meetings on behalf of the group
- You can read our Constitution
- Here are our AGM Minutes 2025
- Any member of UoBCC can request the minutes from the weekly committee meetings from Ciara Scott as we aim to be transparent in what decisions the committee are making.
Trip Literature
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Copy of our trip policy
