WORDS: PETE ASTLES

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PETE ASTLES

Pete Astles

Pete Astles owns and runs Peak Paddlesports, one of the world’s biggest paddling equipment manufacturers,  who supply everyman and his dog in the industry. Family man Pete is also pretty dapper with a camera but his long term ambition is to brew good beer:) Find out more @: https://www.peakuk.com

Cromford Mills Adventure Weekend 2023

Over the showery August bank holiday, local charity and canoe club Paddle Peak allowed a record-breaking 300 local Derbyshire youngsters to try kayaking on the beautiful and historic Cromford canal.  

Back-to-back 30-minute sessions of ten kids at a time took place over the three days as part of the Cromford Mills Adventure Weekend. Visitors could also enjoy other exciting activities such as SUP, rock climbing, archery tag, bushcraft and more.

On top of the daily come-and-try kayaking sessions additional demonstrations and coaching clinics were performed for the crowd to enjoy and be inspired yet further. Paddle Peak’s regular group of local youngsters were given the opportunity to join in with the experts.

On Saturday, Olympians Adam Burgess and Kimberley Woods took time from their busy competition schedules to come and visit Cromford. They coached local youngsters on the River Derwent in front of the magnificent Willersley Castle. Then, during the lunch break, I participated in a fun canoe slalom race on the canal. Paddle Peak members had a chance to complete two runs of a ten-gate slalom course against the clock, with time penalties added for hitting or missing the gates ( two poles hung above the water ). The slalom race ran through the heaviest downpour of the weekend, but undeterred, the youngsters raced well against their Olympic role models. Overall, 9-year-old Eadie Whiting from Milford won the top spot, with Wirksworth’s Eli Hill, also a 9-year-old, placing top lad!

Over Sunday’s lunch break, there was a demonstration of Kayak Cross – a new Olympic paddling discipline that will debut in next year’s Paris Games. Local juniors and veterans participated in a time trial, followed immediately by a knockout head-to-head parallel slalom race in the canal basin. Milford’s vintage master and past world freestyle medalist Andrew Whiting won with Derby’s Jess Shreeve as top lady and Cromford’s Matt Rogerson as top junior. Awesome racing!

On Monday, onlookers witnessed an incredible freestyle kayak demo by World Champion James Bebbington and up-and-coming star Sam Booth. They wowed the canal side full of spectators with their aerial kayak stunts, including front flips, super clean cartwheels ( end over end with no paddle assistance!) and Space Godzillas (a front flip with a twist!). This was followed by a demonstration of canoe polo (a ball game similar to water polo played in kayaks) by the local Viking from Belper – multiple times national champions. Paddle Peak’s youngsters were given the opportunity to join in a match with the local experts that ended with an exciting penalty shoot-out!

Event co-organiser and Paddle Peak founder Pete Astles commented on the weekend’s action, “It was incredible to see so many local young people enjoying kayaking on the Cromford Canal in such a stunning and historical location. Despite the weather, we exceeded previous years to make this the best-attended Adventure Weekend yet! This just shows the interest and potential kayaking has for local young people. “I’m looking forward to seeing some of them again in our regular sessions. Perhaps one day as future Derbyshire Olympians!”

Thanks
Paddle Peak would like to thank all of their tireless volunteers and athletes, without whom none of this would have been possible. Huge thanks to the Arkwright Society and Cromford Mills for hosting the event. Manor Adventure at Willersley Castle for welcoming local young people to the River Derwent in front of the home of Sir Richard Arkwright. Derbyshire County Council Countryside Services for using the Cromford Canal and Wharf. The crew of Birdswood and the Friends of Cromford Canal for manoeuvring their narrow boat so safely through the canal full of youngsters in kayaks! Special thanks to Peak Paddlesports, Pyranha Kayaks and Ainsworth Paddles for supplying the event equipment.

Paddle Peak is a registered charity, British Canoeing club and community project promoting responsible paddlesports, improving access to outdoor spaces, inspiring local young people, caring for the River Derwent and protecting its wildlife. Paddle Peak runs kayaking sessions for local primary school kids on Tuesday nights at Cromford Wharf. For more information, check out their website at www.paddlepeak.org