Paddle Peak Cromford Mills Adventure Weekend

Words: Andrew Whiting
Images: Peter Astles // David Leathborough.

Each August Bank Holiday weekend, for several years now, local charity Paddle Peak have run come and try kayaking sessions free to local youngsters keen to get on the water, as part of the Cromford Mills Adventure Weekend. A superb event based around the historic Cromford Mills giving opportunities to try all sorts of activities, including kayaking.

The canal at Cromford offers a brilliant and safe space to try kayaking for the first time, and the weekend being staffed by such well experienced and qualified paddlers is a unique opportunity.

This year was no different, and around 275 kids took part in the sessions over three days alongside the opportunities to meet GB Olympic paddlers fresh from the Paris Games. Adam Burgess, Kimberly Woods and Mallory Franklin as well as newly crowned U23 European Champion Ben Haylett were all on hand to talk about their experiences, show off medals and sign posters, hats and t shirts – some lucky kids even got to paddle with them and get tips from the superstars!

Huge thanks to all the volunteers that make these sessions possible, Cromford Mills for their continued support, Peak UK for supplying the best equipment, Pyranha Kayaks for bringing their demo fleet. This wouldn’t be possible without all of you.

The Peak Challenge

“The Peak Challenge was (probably) the biggest and best multi-discipline kayaking event series the UK has ever seen.”

Running for almost a decade, it combined slalom, freestyle and downriver racing skills to find an overall champion. Throughout its life, it ran as a series throughout the UK and even ventured to Nepal and Africa. Almost 20 years after the chapter closed, the flame has been re-ignited and re-modelled into a fun filled family weekend.

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend around 60 paddlers aged between 6 and 60 descended into Cromford in the Derwent Valley, based around the historic Cromford Mills and Willersley Castle to take part in this inaugural event. There would be a slalom, Downriver and as a finale, the new Olympic discipline of Kayak Cross would round off the three days.

Saturday would be host to the Slalom event. A course of 18 gates was set over a couple of small rapids, training grounds of the local Paddle Peaksters, to ensure there was enough challenge for all, but not too daunting for any paddler with some moving water experience. Paddlers briefed, judges in place, the racing began. There was some seriously hot laps from ex-premier division and GB team paddlers, GB coaches of several disciplines, right through to the youngest competitors being chaperoned by their parents. All cheered on with huge enthusiasm.

After two laps results were crunched and medals presented by double Bronze Medallist from the Paris Olympics, Kimberly Woods who also spent the day showing off her medals, chatting and signing posters. What a memory (and podium picture) to cherish alongside all the fun and camaraderie of the day. Willersley Castle (Manor Adventure) hosted a social gathering in the evening with dinner and entertainment from local superstar ‘Buskin’ John Gill, rolling out the tunes until the last person had left the building (apart from the residents!).

Sunday was the Downriver. But, before that would start, there was slalom coaching sessions offered to any challenge participants, with a seriously impressive coaching list; fresh from the Olympics we had Adam Burgess (silver Olympic medallist in Paris), Kimberly Woods (2 x Bronze) and Mallory Franklin. Also on hand were slalom superstars Fiona Pennie, Chris Bowers and recently crowned U23 kayak European champion Ben Haylett. What an experience for the kids!

A course of around a kilometre was decided as suitable for the Downriver race (by someone fitter than myself!). Safety was set (with thanks to the GB Slalom folks, Gav Barker, and Pete and Olly from Plas y Brenin) and racing was go! A notable addition to some paddlers quiver for the day was a full race spec whitewater racing boat. These folks gave an awesome display of speed and skill to negotiate the tight lines, and even shared boats for others to try. Despite this, the other paddlers battled on to fight for positions, smiles and cheers. Awesome paddling from everyone throughout the day, and medals presented by Adam Burgess lead into a well-earned social up at Willersley Castle once again – there’s no better setting in the Derwent valley. Dinner was served once again followed by a screening of the legendary PeakUK film Id10t1c Go Boating (remastered for a family audience), showing the paddling and exploits of the PeakUK team from around 200-2001.

Monday dawned bright and (too) early! The big event was here. Kayak Cross (Peak Challenge style) would involve launching from a start ramp and negotiating 8 larger-than-life gates – initially as an individual time trial to seed competitors into heats for semis and finals for each category, then as pairs or threes for the semis and finals. Thrills and spills ensued, with some amazingly tight and fiercely competitive racing throughout. This was drawing the crowds for sure! Results were crunched throughout (thanks Steph and Paul!), and finals were fought to end the weekend with medals for the kayak cross and overall presented by PeakUK’s own Pete Astles.

One of the best things to see from the whole weekend (although there were so many) was that the J12 (under 12’s) category was the biggest of all. What a promising future – and I guess it means the Peak Challenge is back for a new generation!

Amazing work and huge, huge thanks to all who came, paddled, supported and / or volunteered. The pictures and results show most of the story, but the memories from the paddling, friendships, meetings and cheers shared will ensure it’s back again next year.

Special thanks to Cromford Mills and Manor Adventure Willersley Castle for making the event possible, Swadlingcote Ski Slope for the kayak cross start ramp, Peak UK, Pyranha, P&H, Ainsworth and Dagger for all of the kayaks and equipment, Plas Y Brenin for rescue skills, all of the tireless volunteers, instructors, caterers, Thornbridge Brewery for the cool refreshments, and last but not least everyone that came along and joined the fun. Well done.

Paddle Peak is a local charity and club that cleans and cares for the River Derwent, and takes local youngsters kayaking. For more information checkout their Facebook Page and website: www.paddlepeak.org