Hurley Classic 2008

The Hurley rodeo used to be the biggest event of the British Freestyle calendar. Unfortunately, following a couple of cancelled March-events (due to low water), the event became a more low-key event in December (more reliable water-levels, but jolly darn chilly). With the event now being just one-day and the air temperature being a bit nipsome, and the water temperature being a little on the 'too cold' side, as well as Christmas shopping needing to be done, and rivers to be run, it doesn't attract as many paddlers as in the good old days.

Still, on the 14th December around 70 hardcore, mainly local, paddlers took to the increasingly high, brown-looking Thames and competed for the inaugural crown of 'Hurley Classic winner 2008'.

Brrrrr, the cold stole my neck :(

The Classic runs to very different rules with a 10-minute heat format and just the best 4 moves counting, there is also a linking multiplier (2 moves linked together score an extra 50% of the move's score). This does mean that people try to go big, however it does have the feel of just a 'really busy Saturday down at the weir ' - for those new to competing that is a good thing as there is no 45-second pressure, but being a seasoned-competitor I actually quite like having that 45-seconds of paddling to myself!

It was a shame the competition wasn't held on the Saturday as this had seen a fantastic green 3-gater. However the rain that fell for the whole day on Saturday (and filled up the bath in our garden - don't ask - twice) put the weir onto a high 4-gates, perfect for some big looping action.

Keeping warm in the Marquee (spot the mistake)

The heat system gave the results for top 5 in each category to go through to a final. Unfortunately in the women's class there weren't 5 competitors - none of my usual rivals had turned up, obviously not hardcore enough, or perhaps they knew I would beat them :)) (only joking ladies!) So I didn't need to prove myself in the heats as we all went through to the final. I did however try to prove myself against some of the guys and a big front and back loop helped me into 6th place over all after the heats.

The finals were run to ICF rules with 3 runs, best run counts. We saw some huge loops from Joe Bradley which earned him the win in the junior class. Some massive McNasties from local boy (although not so local now he is at Uni in Nottingham area) Alan Ward helped him to 1st place just ahead of Ed Smith. I won ladies and Lee Pyke took 1st against Dave Bainbridge in the C1.

Joe Bradley had some big loops.