The Peak Challenge
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After two laps , results were crunched , and medals were 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 !).
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 . 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 six to 60 descended into Cromford in the Derwent Valley , based around the historic Cromford Mills and Willersley Castle , to participate 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 .
SLALOM EVENT
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 enough challenges for all but not too daunting for any paddler with some moving water experience . Paddlers briefed , judges in place , the racing began . There were some seriously hot laps from the expremier division and GB team paddlers , GB coaches of several disciplines , and the youngest competitors being chaperoned by their parents . All cheered on with tremendous enthusiasm .
A SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE COACHING LIST
Sunday was the Downriver . But before that started , slalom coaching sessions were 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 and 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 ( thanks to the GB Slalom folks , Gav Barker , Pete , and Olly from Plas y Brenin ), and racing was go ! A full race spec whitewater racing boat was a notable addition to some paddler ’ s quiver for the day . These folks displayed tremendous speed and skill in negotiating the tight lines and even shared boats for others to try . Despite this , the other paddlers battled to fight for positions , smiling and cheering .
Incredible 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 ), which showed the paddling and exploits of the PeakUK team from 2000-2001 .
KAYAK CROSS
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 eight 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
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