My school's playing fields were alongside the Macclesfield canal..
A place more known for the number of dead things in it than watercraft on it.

It was also known that when you reached 5th year you were at least once a week allowed to choose canoing as one of the sports activities. As a sports hater this was ideal for me so I signed up with glee. When the first lesson began we peered into the gloomy boat shed and saw racks of lovely Kayaks which we were assigned to us by the PE teachers. The jewel in the crown however was a double seater which two of my larger friends decided they wanted to command together.

After initial safety advice and instructions on how to use the oars we lowered ourselves into each kayak and proceeded to weave our way up and down the small stretch of canal we were allowed to venture. After half an hour or so we were reasonably confident in our abilities and were executing turns, paddling backwards and generally having a great old time.

This was until we heard a low booming vocal sound and saw the 2-man Kayak steaming towards the rest of the group.

"Ramming speed!" was heard as the drumming sound got louder and faster as my two friends paddled as fast as their arms could propel them. It was inevitable they were going to hit someone and their drumming noises were now barely audible over the screaming of the PE instructor. They were at the point of no return.

Poor Jane got the brunt of it with the front of their Kayak hitting hers broadside. She didn't stand a chance and was immediately tipped into the murky waters. She was dragged crying and spluttering to shore and given quite specific instructions to immediately get into the showers for at least 10 minutes whilst the other teacher went for the school nurse. Possibly for antibiotics or other precautionary medicine required after ingesting canal water.

It was the most fantastic thing we'd ever witnessed but we never got to go canoing again.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Thu 19 Apr 2012, 16:15, 3 replies)

Which school was that?

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Thu 19 Apr 2012, 16:41, closed)

Macclesfield High School
Which later became King's School For Girls
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Fri 20 Apr 2012, 8:53, closed)

Ahh, fair enough
I live just round the corner from there
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Fri 20 Apr 2012, 9:14, closed)