Waterways Activities

Needless to say that as an active boating club Ash Tree Boat Club has a full and varied range of 'Waterways Activities' throughout the year. 

Our first cruise as a club is usually around mid/end of February and this may be a Valentine Cruise to Bishton for a BBQ. This is a relatively short trip of two to two and a half hours just to get us back into the scheme of things canal wise. The journey is to one of the clubs most favoured sites at Bishton on the Trent & Mersey canal. Nothing too strenuous takes place, we all get back into the habit of BBQing and having the odd tipple & chat canal side. We light a bonfire and talk amongst ourselves till whatever hour.

Our next major outing is the annual Easter Bonnet Cruise; obviously this takes place over the extended Easter weekend. We try to change the venue each year, to-date we have visited, Weston, Salt, Branston, Alrewas and other 'easy' cruising places that can be reached and returned from over the holiday period. 

Throughout the year the club organises several competitions, in which the members compete for cups and shields. Our major boating competition in the year is the "Boat Handling" which is usually held on the canal at Tixall Wide on the Staffs & Worcester Canal. 

Our Waterways Activities Chairperson lays out the course to be steered with various tests and obstacles on the way. The competition is judged by the organiser. The winner's names are kept under wraps until being announced at the 'Annual Dinner Dance' in November. Prizes are then awarded for the best Cruiser and Narrowboat handling on the day. I should point out that there is also a 'Booby' prize awarded to the 'last' boater in the competition. 

For a great number of years the Club has organised a 'Spring Bank Holiday Cruise', this entails interested parties cruising together for a week over the May Bank holiday period. In recent years this has been renamed and is now the 'Commodore's Cruise'. 

In the past years we have cruised up the Ashby Canal to its termination, the Staffs & Worcester Canal to Stourport, Gas street basin, Merry hill and up the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals to Whaley Bridge,Some of our members have ventured further afield over the years with one or two month journeys on the River Nene, The Kennet & Avon Canal, River Weaver and Liverpool via the Trent & Mersey canal.

One other activity on the water involves the Club visiting other like thinking boat clubs who are holding a 'Rally or boat gathering' at their own boat club premises. Members make their own way to the venue and spend an enjoyable weekend with members from other clubs, during which time 'Inter Club' games may take place organised by way of bringing the several attending club members closer together. Typical games are Welly Wanging, Boules, Rope throwing, Plank Racing and the old favourite - Horseshoes. 

On some occasions there may be a main prize for the winning team or individual and this ensures that, although light hearted, the competition is not taken too lightly. 

Other equally enjoyable events are organised during the year Such as an annual Conker competition , photographic competition & skittles, we encourage all members to support these activities, those that do, usually, have an enjoyable time.

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