Hurley Classic Freestyle

The Hurley rodeo was the very first competition I entered back in 1998, and as I'm a Hurley local it is always one of my favourite events. After 2 cancelled events, due to low water levels, this event nearly didn't happen due to too much water! On Thursday the weir was very high and in the stantions, but Jacko (from Kayakojacko - chief organiser) was determined for the event to go ahead, and luckily it hadn't rained for a few days, allowing the water levels to drop just enough for Saturday's competition.

The event format was an unusual one, but seemed to work well. Heats of 10 competitors paddled for 1/2 hour and their best 4 moves counted. On top of this there were extra points for combinations of any moves.

It was great to see a few people, such as Wiggy and Ed Hopper, come out of their competition retirement for the event. Unfortunately though there were a number of weir regulars who did not make an appearance - most probably due to high water levels.

The levels were still high on Saturday and gate 1 was strangely difficult to get on (possibly due to a tree upstream of the gates, or maybe because the side radials had been closed). I missed the hole on about 50% of my rides, and some people didn't manage to get on at all. Once in the feature it was fairly powerful and gates 2 and 3 were quite retentive and quite difficult to get to the top of the pile. However, all hole moves were possible. Ed Smith had the highest scoring run of the day with Mcnasties in both directions, front and back loops, tricky whus and phonics monkeys.


I was the highest scoring lady, with front loops and combinations of spins, splitwheels and cartwheels.

As dusk came in a brave few (mainly those with drysuits) took part in the 'if it floats' competition - open to anyone with any floating objects!

James Weir and 'Clown' won this event with their sailing boat. Unsurprisingly there was not much of a sail left on it after a couple of rides!


For the party on Saturday night there was an option of Mulled Wine at James Weir's van, or the warmer pub option - we chose the pub. Everyone eventually met together in the Hogshead in Marlow, and a few of the braver ones partied into the night at Marlow's Central Party Pub: Chequers. On Sunday morning Small Robin was grateful that we had persuaded him that staying out at Chequers and then sleeping in a tent without a thermorest or sleeping bag was not a good idea.

On Sunday, due to the lowish numbers of competitors, Jacko decided to run through all the heats again so everyone had a chance to better their score from the day before. Despite the huge amounts of water still coming down the river, the level had been dropped to 3 gates. Not a classic 3 by any means, as because of the high water gate 2 was still a pile, rather than a green wave. But, there were some minature shoulders which kept Ed Hopper, and a few other people who prefer their blunting to their looping, happy. It did allow for some blunts and a few donkey flips, meaning that Mr Hopper (lucky for him) had his chance to beat my score from Saturday!


Alan Ward makes good use of the mini-shoulders

Gate 1 was slightly odd, either due to high-water, or due to the tree wedged upstream. Usually gate 1 is perfect for endless left-hand cartwheels, and some easy loops, however today it was perfect, as I found out, for tripping up and head-surfing! As well as numerous head-surfs, I managed a few blunts and a good loop, but didn't get the combination moves that I managed the day before so scored a couple of points less.

I land a loop

The final results for the ladies: The points were close at the end of the competition. I was in first, just a couple of points ahead of Flic, who was just ahead of Bryony in 3rd.


Ed Smith (pictured above) won the men's event, with Richard Chrimes in 2nd and Casper from Holland in 3rd. Full results are on Kayakojacko

It was a great weekend, and we definitely got a lot of boating for our money, as well as a Marquee to sit in and cheap food to buy. Although, I thought it was a shame we didn't have any finals as that's always something for the spectators to enjoy (heat after heat gets a bit boring to watch), and is a good focus for the competitors.

Thanks to Jacko and his team for putting on a fantastic event. I'm looking forward to the next one.