River Eden - Lazonby to Armathwaite - 20th March 2016

Annual Macclesfield Canoe Club jaunt down the River Eden. 14 club members set off in the sunshine with the river at an unusually low level for this time of year.

The low level meant that many of the rapids were trickier to pick the way through, but it also meant that some waves and features were present that would have normally been washed out.

The final obstacle is the weir at Armathwaite. We normally shoot this river left, down a rocky ramp but the normally fierce drop on the right hand side was somewhat tamer than usual, so half a dozen of us opted to go down this way. I managed to get down unscathed, but a couple of our group were nearly backward looped in the hole and ended up swimming. Fine entertainment for the walkers watching from the bank.

Me shooting the weir - photo credit Alan Tonge

Nottingham White Water Course - 5th December 2015

I've been wanting to paddle the artificial white water course at Holme Pierrepont near Nottingham for years. As a student I sent some money off that started the fundraising to get the course built and it was finally constructed in 1986. So it's only taken me nearly 30 years to get there.

The river Trent that supplies the water for the course was very high, and this meant the lowest drops were washed out, but the remaining features were quite interesting and lively.

We "warmed up" in the pool above the course by doing some rolls. It was freezing, and this put me off doing anything too spectacular once out on the course.

I did about 5 runs down the course, generally able to make the eddies that I wanted to, but I didn't really play in any of the waves. I managed to stay upright, but I wasn't really pushing myself. Would be nice to go back sometime when it is warmer.

Compared to the Teesside course, I think Holme Pierrepont is a bit more interesting, and the features more challenging, but that may only be because of the high water level. I must admit though the conveyor belt at Teesside makes it much more civilised compared to carrying your boat back up at Nottingham.

River Goyt - 15th November 2015

Macclesfield Club trip down the Goyt from Roman Lakes to Chadkirk.

Fairly high water level (up to 0.9 on the online gauge?) made for a bouncy ride with some nice wave trains.

The horseshoe weir was in a dangerous state with many logs being re-circulated and the toe-back into the weir went out for a good few metres.

Here's a video of the weir:

Here's a video of Sam shooting the broken weir near Chadkirk:

Teesside Whitewater Centre - 31st May 2015

A change of scenery - I enjoyed the chance to paddle the artificial white water course at the River Tees Barrage with the Macclesfield and District Canoe Club. A 300m course runs in a loop with many drops and wave features to practice my rather rusty white water skills. I'd not paddled and played in such conditions for nearly 30 years!

Punching through the bottom stopper

The water level is maintained by four large Archimedes' screws that pump water back to the top. Alongside the screws is the ultimate luxury - a conveyor belt that takes paddlers back up to the start! This makes it possible to have continuous runs of the course without leaving your boat.

Approaching the conveyor belt, with the Archimedes' screws to the left

riding the conveyor belt

Playing in one of the waves

I can still breakout!

Dropping into an eddy alongside a "hole"

playing in a small stopper

I surfed and played in a number of the features, perhaps slightly gingerly. In the past (in the 80s!) I have played in such conditions and rolled regularly, but my confidence in my white water roll is not as solid as it used to be. Hopefully the Greenland rolling I am doing at Brereton Lake will re-tune my rolling so I'll be more confident next time.

Thanks to Alan Tonge for the photos.

River Eden - 18th January 2015

Annual trip down the Eden with the Macclesfield Canoe Club. Slightly above medium water level to give a fairly bouncy and entertaining paddle. Snow on the ground made for a chilly wait while the shuttle cars were sorted, but soon warmed up once on the river. Paddled the Pyranha Burn for the first time and this provided a dryer ride than the Inazone, though perhaps slightly less entertaining.

7km from Lazonby to Armathwaite.

River Goyt - 28th December 2013

I've been meaning to paddle the Goyt for a long time, and finally got around to it as a chance to burn off some turkey and my mum's Christmas puddings!

Despite the wild weather over the holidays, the river was at a normal winter level (0.55 on the gauge?). At this level it is a bit bumpy in places on the more stony rapids but still interesting with some fun drops over the weirs.

I paddled with half a dozen kayakers plus an open canoe from Macclesfield Canoe Club. The sun was shining and it was surprisingly pleasant as we put in at Roman Lakes. A number of small rapids led to the first major interest point, the drop at Marple Bridge. We shot this on the left, with one of our party taking a swim. While he was being re-united with his boat I thought it rude not to jump out and nip up to do it again, this time dropping over the middle (a more vertical drop - 2.5 feet? - compared to route on the left that gives a more defined shoot).

We passed on through Brabyn's Park and the next weir, which has three slopes divided by vertical walls. I shot the middle slot which had a stopper, while most of the others scraped over the left hand side.

The next weir is horseshoe shaped and can be dangerous, so most of our group portaged it, but a couple of us shot it towards the left hand side.

A number of small rapids continued the interest, some with small waves or features to play in as we made our way down to the Manchester Canoe Club site and the slalom course. We had another couple of swimmers at, or just below, the abrupt left hand turn just below the club house.

It was starting to cool off now, and the last bit of excitement was the broken weir as we entered Chadkirk park. A new bridge straddles the remains of what used to be a 3ft sloping weir. This has mainly been washed away, leaving wooden stakes that the unwary could be pinned to. With a bit of care these can be negotiated and just below the ruined weir is a shelf that was kicking up a very friendly surfing wave that provided some sport before we continued onto our egress point, near the Country Park car park by the A627.

An entertaining trip and only 30 minutes drive away, giving a paddle of about 7.25km.

River Eden - 16th November 2013

Lazonby to Armathwaite, approximately 5 miles.
Grade 2. Pleasant river paddle with Macclesfield Canoe Club with the river at a low-medium level.

Bollington Pool - 15th November 2013

20 minutes in the pool rolling practice.

Bollington Pool - 8th November 2013

30 minute pool session rolling practice. Hand roll not even close :(

River Eden - 4th November 2012

Lazonby to Armathwaite, approximately 5 miles.
Grade 2. Pleasant river paddle with Macclesfield Canoe Club with the river at a medium level.
Paddled the InaZone 230, rather strange after paddling sea kayaks.