A weekend of paddling and fun

The late May Bank Holiday provides an opportunity for getting together and having a great time enjoying paddling and socialising. A chance to appreciate what life is about, to unwind, to relax and enjoy have fun on the water.

When

Saturday 23rd May til Monday 25th May, this has now become a traditional take over of or partners fantastic facilities at Shepperton Slalom Canoe Club. We would like to thank our hosts for the support they give us and to the sport in general. For directions click here.

At the site there is free camping and a clubhouse with facilities, so you can, if you wish stay the weekend and enjoy a great club atmosphere and socialise and share your thoughts and experiences. As well as making for a great event, this enables us as a Club to develop and to deliver even better events and activities.

What

Read the outline Document Plan here.

Saturday

A weekend of paddling fun. On Saturday, we will have open practice all day with no events, just a chance to get on the water and practice paddling on the moving water and the slalom course.

We will have lots of boats for you to try, Slalom kayaks and canoes as well as Wild Water Racing Boats for you to try. We will have coaches onsite throughout the day to help, support, and coach. This day is suitable for all standards and is about learning, practicing and improving at whatever level you are at.

Sunday

Will be competition day, but there will be plenty of time to practice in the morning, of those who were not able to get over on Saturday, or this who did who just want to be even better.

Slalom

The Division 4 (entry level) and Division 3 Slalom will start at about noon, depending on entries. You can enter online here. If you are new to the discipline get in touch and we can help you do the entry, we will be accepting entries on the day. After 11am it will be complete runs of the course only.

Second runs should start at about 2pm, there will be free practice in the break.

We will have C2 (Canoe Doubles to borrow) and a prize for parent (or other family member) and child races. Prizes will be awarded according to the age group of the front paddler.

After the conclusion of the individual event, we will hold a team event, three paddlers who go round the course together and need to keep within 15 seconds at certain points (Team Gate and finish), this will be free to enter and is just adding to the fun.

Wild Water Race

At the conclusion of prize giving for the Slalom we will host the London Open Wild Water Racing Sprint Championships. The course will be about 200 metres and will start at the weir. You will be able to do as many runs as you want, and in as many different types of boat (K1, C1, C2). This will also be a ranking Regional and Wavehopper race. It is £4.00 to enter if you have raced in the slalom, otherwise it is £7.00 per person.

After Prize giving we will remain onsite and we can either arrange for food to be brought in or we can all go out for a meal. Those who really want to can cook of course.

Bank Holiday Monday

Sunday will be another ranking Division 4 and Division 3 Slalom, and in the break there will be the addition of ….

The Pan Galactic End Cockpit Canoe Doubles Championships.

This will take place in the lunch break between first and second runs, we have boats you can borrow and there will be no additional charge to anyone who has entered the slalom. One run only.

You can of course bring your own End Cockpit C2 (is there anyone out there with one – if you do please get in touch – we want to make this an annual event). We have three you can choose from, if you wish to borrow one:

Our 1967 Czechoslovakian built special …

Our Lippy designed 1970s model, built by JayCee Canoes, as seen at last year’s Sharks at Shepperton event.

Or our latest addition, the Gaybo built 1970s Lettmann craft.

Where

At Shepperton Lock, Home of Shepperton Slalom Canoe Club, which is conveniently placed a short distance from our sites at Thamesmead and Harefield. Click here for directions on Google Maps.

For more information, please talk to coaches at Shark Sessions, email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk. or call/text 07951770241.

Shark Events, where the fun is.

Published Friday April 10th 2026