Canoeists’ record attempt for new clubhouse

Canoeists took part in a 24-hour world record attempt in Stone at the weekend to make sure that their new clubhouse can be completed.

Members of Stafford and Stone Canoe Club headed to the water to help raise the final £10,000 needed to complete their new £580,000 clubhouse.

The world record attempt involved more than 70 athletes seeing how many canoe slalom races they could complete between noon on Saturday and noon on Sunday at the club’s base in Westbridge Park.

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Paddlers completed about 1,800 loops of the slalom course, which included a series of 20 gates suspended over a 200-metre stretch of water. No world record exists for such a feat of endurance, but club officials hope it will be accepted as an official world record.

And the club managed to reach their £580,000 milestone after raising £13,000 at this weekend’s event. Money has also been given to the club from a legacy of former member Donald Bean and the family of 29-year-old Ruth Holdway, who was a canoe coach for the club and died during a walking holiday in 2009.

The former wooden clubhouse was first built in 1983 and just wasn’t suitable any longer. The new building will include a boat storage area, changing facilities, gym and kitchen area.