Telford CC River Festival Weekend
Jackfield Adventure and Community Spirit!
This past weekend, the river came alive with energy, laughter, and the sound of good times on the water as Telford CC celebrated an unforgettable River Festival packed with action, learning, and connection.
Freestyle Kayaking Coaching on the Middle Wave
The Middle Wave became a playground for freestyle, with expert coaching sessions from Matt Stephenson helping paddlers of all abilities refine their tricks and build confidence. It was inspiring to see so much progress and passion in one spot!
Kayak Cross Event
The adrenaline was high as paddlers battled it out in the thrilling Kayak Cross event. With tight turns, fast sprints, and a few dramatic rolls, it was a crowd and paddlers favourite that raised cheers from the banks.
SUP Event
Stand-Up Paddleboarders took to the waves, sending it with the kayakers in the middle wave. There was an opportunity to race or just go with the flow, the SUP event brought a whole new dimension to the festival and showed what awesome balance on a SUP can achieve.
Try Slalom Event
For those new to the sport or looking to test their skills, the Try Slalom event offered a fun and friendly introduction to navigating gates on the river. A short 10 gate course gave the paddlers a chance to try slalom in any boat. The main aim – test your skill and enjoy it!
Evening River Talk with Dave Manby
As the sun set, the community gathered for an inspiring river talk by the legend Dave Manby. His stories of adventure and exploration reminded us all why we love the river and the journeys it offers.
Over two days, the festival brought together paddlers of all levels in celebration of being on the river. This is the first time Telford Canoe Club has run an event like this and it certainly won’t be the last. Thanks to PEAK PS and the PEAK Challenge, and Llandysul River Festival for the inspiration. Hopefully see you all on the river soon and at the Jackfield River Festival next year.Huge thanks to the Telford CC crew who worked tirelessly getting lines across the river, setting up poles, getting the site cut, booking coaching and river talks and welcoming people from far and wide. Also a massive thankyou to all the clubs and manufacturers that offered equipment to use and sent prizes, it’s what makes this sport so unique and epic.
