Last Saturday, Liverpool's biggest Paddlesport fun event of the year especially for children took place at Merseysport in Queen's Dock, in really gorgeous weather. There were mixed team events for three different age groups - Under 12, Under 15, and Under 18, and individual events in all three age categories for both boys and girls.

Attendance was 50% up on the previous year, and all the kids had a fabulous day of competition and messing round in a wide variety of boats which was completely free of charge.

Liverpool City Council's Culture Company sponsored Paddlefest as part of this year's Mersey River Festival, and the event was organised by Liverpool's Friends of Allonby Canoe Club in conjunction with the British Canoe Union, Wirral Guide & Scout Association, Peninsula Canoe Club, Runcorn Canoe Club, Mersey Rowing Club, and Local Solutions Merseysport.

There were several team events including races between Bell Boats (very stable boats carrying 8 paddlers and a helmsman), and Canoe Polo matches in which two teams competed against each other to score goals in their opponents nets which were suspended above the water at each end of the pitch. In addition, there were lots of individual timed events including Diamond Slalom, K1 Lightning Sprint races, Ergo (Paddling) Machine Challenge, and Rowing Machine Challenge. For the first time a Rowing Skills competition was also included in the event programme, together with the popular Come & Try It Taster Sessions which provided an opportunity for young people to paddle a lot of different open, and closed cockpit, boats.

Inevitably a number of kids and Instructors got a bit wet during some of the events, but as canoeing is a "wet sport" it was all just part and parcel of a very enjoyable day.

Overall, sixteen Teams took part in Paddlefest including those from three Scout Groups, four Canoe Clubs, and three Scratch Teams of individual children who had turned up on the day.

At the end of a really great day of fun and games, individual Medals or Team Trophies for the first, second and third placed in each event were presented by Sue McAdam, Event Coordinator, from the Liverpool Culture Company. In addition, every child that took part in Paddlefest Liverpool received a Certificate as a memento of the day.

More photographs from Paddlefest Liverpool can be found on Friends of Allonby Canoe Club's Web Site at www.foacc.com, together with lots of other information about the Club's coaching, leisure and competition activities. Alternatively, information about Friends of Allonby can be requested by phoning 07952 824030 or 07952 406158.

Information about all aspects of canoeing and contact addresses with other local Canoe Club's can be obtained from the British Canoe Union's Website at www.bcu.org.uk.