Paddling till the end As usual, Shark activity carried on through the month, with just a short break for the festivities.
Thanks to Co-operation this is possible Collaborative working in Harlesden has been bringing canoeing to a wider audience, getting people active and having fun. We have big plans for 2023, time for you to get involved. call/text 07951 770241 or email: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk.
Richard Davis Congratulations to Richard Davis in becoming the 2023 Over 80s and over 85s National Masters Slalom Champion.
Another Active Month October was a full on month of activities across all Shark sites as we came to the end of Summertime and prepare for Winter sessions.
How many paddlers did we have? October’s Stone Slalom brings to the end another Slalom Season and time to look at the final rankings of Shark Paddlers.
Canalside Improvements and a New Boat. 2023, has been a difficult year for The Sharks at Harlesden as we have not been able to operate properly at the site, whilst prolonged improvements have been undertaken; but now we can see some tangible benefits …
A Busy Month in Sharkland September saw a lot of activity for The Sharks as indeed so do most moths.
Outstanding Contribution Award The Sharks’ Neal Underwood has received the Outstanding Contribution Award by British Canoeing for his contribution to paddlesport over the last 50 years!
What a great event! On Saturday 23rd September The Sharks hosted a Vintage (1985 rules) Slalom at the Lee Valley, along side the World Championships and it was a great day, old boats and some slightly older people having fun.
A very good month for paddling The weather in August was patchy, but the attendance at Shark activities was defiantly not, we were involved in a lot of sessions with partner groups across our sites, delivery Summer holiday activates for people of all ages.
Who missed out on this? Despite a wide invitation, it was only a few paddlers who were able to attend this active weekend, but those who did had lost of fun, some great paddling and other activities.
Fancy a weekend of paddling? We are going to Llandysul next weekend 18th to 20th August, feel free to join us. We are camping and the cost is £5 per person per night. If you are interested in going please email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk or text on 07951 770241
Another Great Shark Month Sessions, races, medals, promotions, and fun, a perfectly normal month in Sharkland.
Supporting Paddling in NW10 We are pleased to announce our partnership with GLi (also know as KSP) is to be extended and expanded. We are very grateful for the support GLi through their Urban Life Project, have given us over the past year and look forward to an exciting Summer in Harlesden.
Another fun event at Harefield The Sharks Division 4 and Open slalom at Harefield was a great event , but would have benefitted form a few more paddlers. Many thanks to those who did paddle, and especially to those who helped run the event.
Sunday 16th April 2023 – 4 & Open The 2023 Harefield Slalom division 4 and Open will take place on Sunday 16th April, races for all abilities and classes. With a special prize for the best multi class paddler! Enter online here. For more information call us on 07951 770241 or email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk.
Moving forward .. Another good month for The Sharks, we were racing and hosting something a bit special.
Getting off to a great start Welcome to 2023, the fifteenth Year of The Sharks and despite the various climatic challenges, The Sharks have been active, have you?
Division 3 & 4 on Sat 4th & Sun 5th Our friends at Shepperton Slalom Canoe Club are hosting a Division 3 and Division 4 Slalom at Shepperton on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of July.
At Grandtully Scotland – 12th -15th August A chance to see Europe’s top junior Wild Water Racing Paddlers in the UK.
Sunday 23rd August We are still waiting details of this race, but we did attend in 2024 and it was great fun, on a lovely stretch or the Medway in Tonbridge, it is within easy reach of Thamesmead and a great race for paddlers just starting out.
Our Osterley park sessions are up and running Come and enjoy paddling in the scenic surrounds of Osterley Park. This is a totally safe environment, we use Sit-on-Top Kayaks, which are very stable, you sit on them, not in them and they are easy to paddle, even for first timers.
The Peak Challenge – 29th – 31st August 2026. This really is a fantastic weekend for all standards of paddler and a great weekend for the whole family to spend in the beautiful Derbyshire Dales. Just take a look at the report from last year.
A new event with a difference A small group of Shark Paddlers tried out an event with a difference, it was more about time on the water and learning new skills, in preparation for competition, although there were some non-ranking races to help.
Thursday July 2nd Please note change of date due to Red Weather Warning for Heat. Everybody welcome, all boats and standards. The races will be free to enter and will be held over 200m and 500m on the canal at Southall, UB2 4GG. Access to Three Bridges School via the footbridge from Havelock Road.
The Charity Race of the year The second Great Harlesden Charity Canoe Race took part on Wednesday 24th September, raising money for local charities, the Brent Food Bank and Queens Park Rangers Community Trust. Both these charities support local people.
A Fantastic Day at Lee Valley WWC The Sharks Wild Water Racing Legacy has begun, a day of white water activity, introducing new people to the discipline, providing training for those with more experience and a chance to race. This is just the beginning …
Preparing for Marathon The Sharks have introduced the Harlesden GS Series, the races are 3.5k long and are aimed at preparing youngsters for the Geoff Sanders Races at ranking marathons. However, we also run races for seniors.
Every Monday at 5pm Sessions starts at 5pm and cost £6.00 per person per person, as the programme develops we will introduce more oportunities. Please arrive (15 minutes before) so that you are ready to be on the water at 5pm, to maximise the value of the session.
We are looking for staff The Sharks are looking for people to teach and coach canoeing at all of our sites. We maybe able to help you get the relevant qualifications, whilst you work for us. Get in touch email: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk, or call: 07951 770241.
Apply for Your Slalom Bib From today Sunday January 18th, you can apply for your slalom bin if you are in Division 3 or above.
Get Involved and Help us Grow The Sharks are committed to helping to grow Slalom Canoeing and playing our part in this great community. We are joining the Slalom Starts Programme, which aims to bring more people into the discipline.
Tuesday at Harefield. Rick Moore, our top notch slalom coach is running Slalom Starts sessions in partnership with Paddle UK Slalom.
Saturdays 11am – 2pm Starting on Saturday June 6th on Southmere Lake at The Sharks’ Southmere Water Sports Centre, 4 Bazalgette Way, SE2 9TX. Cost is just £6 per person, doubles and Singles available. For more information email us at: thamesmead@thesharks.org.uk or Call/Text: 07481 564945.
What Can we Achieve in 2026? Each yer we set some targets related to the Year number, so what can we don in 2026. If you have any ideas to add to this list, please get in touch by email: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk or call/text 07951 770241.