Venues

PFAKS IV - National Watersports Centre, Nottingham

The National Watersports Centre lies just to the South East of Nottingham 2 mins from the A52. Built way back when it was the UK's first artificial whiterwater course. Quite a few changes have been made to the course over the years as the various disciplines of canoeing have developed. Currently run by Leisure Connection most of the funding for the centre comes from Sport England. The centre is home to the majority of the UK's Olympic Slalom hopefuls, meaning Freestyle plays second fiddle. However that doesn't make the course an unsuitable site for freestyle. There are numerous waves, holes and features that offer a wide and diverse selection of possibilities to all levels.

Anyone wishing to paddle on the course at this event or generally must be capable of or already hold their BCU 3 star award.

The centre has all facilities you would expect from a National venue, good showers, clean toilets, burger van, etc. If you have not already experienced it first hand or heard rumours on chat boards ect the parking at the centre is a bit of a crime hotspot. Please do not leave anything valuable or not on display in your car, van or automobile.

Camping is not included in the entry fees for this event. There is a campsite at the National Watersports Centre just before you turn off to head down to the whiterwater course. The prices start from around £9 per tent.

Further info and local links.
National Watersports Centre
Peak UK Shop

PFAKS III - The Mighty Nene

The Mighty Nene is currently the U.K.'s only pumped whitewater course. Three pumps draw the water from the bottom pool back up to the first pool before gravity brings it down over various drops, deep pits, obstacles creating an extremely user friendly section of whitewater. The course has been made into a circle so when you get to the bottom, you just need to walk back up the slope to the top pool and off you go again. No longer walks carrying your boat to the top again here! This event is ideal for those just starting out, more experienced paddlers will be on hand to coach and give advice.

Hot showers, clean changing facilities, safe car parking and a cafe are all available at the centre which is just a short walk from the whitewater course. .

If you want a more sedate paddle the Nene flows slowing along the valley ideal for a family trip in an open boat or leisure kayak.

During the weekend competitors can camp around the grassy banks that surround the course. The cafe will be on hand to serve up tasty bacon butties in the morning and the guys from Tradewinds will be on hand to sell those essentials for camping and canoeing.

Further infomation and photos about the river:
Nene Whitewater Course
Northampton Canoe Club

PFAKS II - Tryweryn

The Tryweryn leg of the Plastic Fantastic will be held at two different locations of the river as it meanders down the valley to meet the Dee before entering Bala Lake. A dammed river with over 200 release dates a year, the Tryweryn provides almost guaranteed paddling throughout the year. The rivers starts beneath the dam and flows through the managed canoeing centre, Canolfan Tryweryn. Many different feature litter the river, giving enjoyment to paddlers of all abilities. The freestyle will be held towards the end of the managed section on a wave recently changed underneath the NRA Bridge (Some paddler still refer to this as Scaffold Bridge before it was rebuilt)

Hot showers, clean changing facilities, safe car parking and a cafe are all available at the centre. Paddlers competing in the event will have access to the entire upper section of the Tryweryn throughout the weekend but will have share the water with other users and rafts.

The rivers continues to flow past the centre with little more than a few ripples until you approach the town of Bala. Here the rivers begins to speed up before dropping over Bala Mill Falls. Recently there have been a few issues around this part of the river so we would ask anyone paddling to observe the following:

• 1- Access the river only from the public footpath rather than walking along the side of the river over private land. The Boto-X will run from Factory Pool where the footpath meets the river
• 2- Spectators for the Boto-X do not cross the fence above Bala Mill Falls in to the private field

Camping will be in the field next to the Bala Mill Falls site. The field is owned by Bala Canoe Club and has been kindly rented to us for the event. It is close to residential premises and for this reason please keep noise down in the evening so we may continue to use this facility. The evening entertainments will take place at the Bala Sailing Club a short walk over to the otherside of Bala Lake.

Further infomation and photos about the river:
Bala Mill Slalom Course
UK Rafting
UK Rivers Guidebook

PFAKS I - Washburn

The picturesque Washburn valley lies between the more famous Yorkshire valleys of Wharfedale and Nidderdale approximately 10 miles from Harrogate. The river Washburn has been dammed several times along its course and provides drinking water for the nearby City of Leeds and the surrounding areas. Yorkshire Water control the flow of water between the dams along the rivers original course and when the dam is open an agreement allows us as Canoeists to go and play. The river is graded a 3, some guidebooks rate the broken weir drop as a 4. Its not the deepest, nor the widest river but its got something for everybody.

The get in and general car-park for the river is beneath Thruscross reservoir and from here the river flows down into the Fewston reservoir. The more exciting parts of the river are up stream and can be walked back along after a paddle down. If want a slightly longer paddle there is a car-park at the Fewston reservoir making shuttles nice and easy. The river is narrow and flows fast so swimmers can be tricky to rescue quickly but no major dangers await an unfortunate paddler as long as they are comfortable taking an unexpected dip. At worst they can always be collected up in the reservoir with a few bruises on their butt.

Camping this year will be again at Pearl's campsite just 5 mins from the river, and Saturdays evening meal and entertainment will be Hopper Lane Hotel. A 10 minute or so walk across the fields, or quick drive on the roads.

Here some links with some more photos of the Washburn and surrounding area.

Reservoirs of the Washburn Valley
The Washburn Valley
PeakUK Washburn RainFest