White Water Course

Registered Company No 2612775

Disclaimer

This section of the River Calder (approx 300m) is alongside our Club, in the centre of Sowerby Bridge (directions to the club). Play for as long as you like - and walk back up for another go!

General Description: After many years of damage during high water levels, the white water course was was rebuilt in August 2007, taking it back close to how it looked when it was orginally built in the 1980's. It provides for a good introduction to white water, play boating or slalom practice. It is used three times a year for slalom events (Div 2, 3 and 4 slaloms) and other canoeing events.

Please note the put-in is through a resident's land, so be respectful of their property. The launching area is prone to pebble banks forming under the water, in particular under the bridge arch on the right as you face up stream. From the launch area you can paddle upstream for about 1 km to warm up and return to course. (There is also another small rapid and Puzzle weir about 1km upstream). The Course is made up of artificial drops and pools, originally designed around the needs of slalom, but has many other paddling uses.

Grading: Generally grade II but in high water levels it can reach grade III falls. In very high water the entire course washes out - see below for water levels

Put In / Take Out: They are near to the club house through other residents land for which we have access rights. The put in is through brown gates with sign saying "No Public Right Of Way" - please close the gate behind you - over the red wooden footbridge down to cobbled launch area. The take out is at the bottom of course up the metal steps back into the mill complex.

Access Situation: No problems providing you are respectful of other residents of the site. Please do not leave you cars in the mill complex, drop of your kit and park your motors in the public car park behind B&H supermarket (formerly Kwik Save), accessed via Tuel Lane, next to canal.

We do get people fishing on the site, but they are used to people canoeing on here regularly.

For visiting paddlers passing through or playing on the course there is no charge. To minimise disruption to residents from large groups we may be able to arrange access to changing facilities with showers. Please contact our Chair, Mark Limmer on ( 01706 812265 or email for more information. Regular paddlers to the course are encouraged to join the club and contribute to club life.

Water Level Indicators: The river is paddlable in all but extreme high water.

The most important thing is that when the water level is high you must be able to beach by metal steps at the bottom of the course to get out. If not its a long walk (about a 1km) to the next get out. More importantly the next weir down can be difficult in high water - a wall to wall canoe-gobbler - with no possible portage. The river is subject to run off from the local moors so river levels can rise very quickly.

As an indicator, the club classes normal level as when the water is up to the top of the weir at the top of the course. The course can be paddled below this level, but the drops are a bit rocky for vertical moves.

If there is water going over the weir along its full length we class the level as being high. If you can't see the weir it is very high ! - see the note above about being able to get off.

Major Hazards / Falls: The Weir Drop has a tow back, which can be dangerous for the inexperienced and unwary, particularly in low water. Debris from floods, can be an occasional problem. Once again the ability to beach at the metal steps when levels are high as mentioned above. If it is you first visit scout the course first or meet a club member.

These notes have been updated after the reforming of the course in August 2007, and are based on low water level

Egress: The large metal steps on the river left are a giveaway! Either climb out onto the large rocks lining the riverside, or about 10m downstream of the metal steps the river bank slopes down to a eddy on the left that can be used. At high water you can paddle over the large rocks normally on the riverside and beach by the steps - but make sure you can do this before you can get on! Then you can either climb the steps or follow rivers edge back to the start, a couple of minutes walk either way.

Also see our ‘drop by drop’ guide to the white water course

Other Notes:

1. If it is your first visit go through Sowerby Bridge on the A58 until you cross the river (County) bridge, find a car parking space nearby and return to bridge on foot. From there you will be able to see the put-in and course plus which will help you get your bearings. Obviously it is a Club site, so anyone interested in joining please contact us (see membership for contacts), we do all the regular club things and warm friendly welcome will be given.

2. The water is not clear but is much cleaner that it used to be (honest), in fact so much cleaner that Grayling are now occasionally caught by local fisherman. You are reminded that this river is set in an urban area so statistically there is a chance of Weil's Disease, although there has never been a case reported in the Clubs history. More common are stomach bugs, so sensible precautions are advised.

3. It is possible to either come down the Calder from several points upstream, carry on downstream, or make use of the nearby canal for a round trip. However there are a number of weirs both upstream and downstream on the river that can be dangerous in certain conditions.

Disclaimer: Canoeing and Kayaking are "assumed risk" - "water contact sports" that may carry carry attendant risks. participants should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own action and involvement.

Halifax Canoe Club accept no responsibility for injury or loss resulting for using these white water facilities.