Swaledale Outdoor Club

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22nd River Swale Charity Paddle - March 8th & 9th 2008

General Details

Swaledale Outdoor Club invites you to join them on this beautiful grade 2/3 stretch of the river Swale.

This year money raised by the Paddle will be split between Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team and the Great North Air Ambulance.

A shuttle car will run between Richmond and Grinton. The car will leave Richmond Green car park soon after 9 am and at intervals thereafter (the return trip takes 30-40 minutes). Passengers are expected to make a contribution of £1 each way
to help towards the running of the shuttle service. Note that the shuttle is for drivers, not boats, so that the return journey time can be kept to a minimum and paddlers not kept waiting unduly at the put-in.

Free hot drinks will be provided for all who want them at Swale View Caravan Park.

Entrants and Sponsorship

Entry form and sponsor form for the charities can be downloaded here. Any person who raises £15.00 or more in sponsorship will, upon receipt of their sponsor money, be sent a free entry token for next year's paddle.

Entry Fee

Rates are per person and not per canoe. Accompanied under thirteens half price.

Weekend £10.00
Daily £6.00

Entrants can register on the day at Grinton Bridge. Registration is open 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. each day.

All entry fees and sponsor monies go directly to the charities being supported. None of this money is used to provide facilities or entertainment; this is done at the expense of Swaledale Outdoor Club and its members.

Accommodation

Accommodation may be found by telephoning:
Richmond Tourist Information 01748 850252
Swale View Caravan Park 01748 823106

Entertainment

As if paddling one of the most scenic rivers in England wasn't enough..........
You are invited to our clubhouse on Saturday evening. The club house will be open from 5.30pm. There is a licensed bar and we are arranging some slide shows for your amusement and entertainment.

Safety

Boats must be safe with adequate, properly secured buoyancy.

All paddlers must have appropriate clothing including buoyancy aid. Warm clothing must be worn. Please be aware that previous years have been exceptionally cold - this is the frozen north! Please carry spare warm clothing in your canoe/kayak, especially if you have children paddling with you.

All kayakers must also wear an approved helmet.

If in doubt at any point on the river, get out and inspect, portage if necessary.

Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety. No safety cover is provided at any of the rapids. People are expected to paddle in groups and to look to the safety of each other and those around them.

Assistance

SOC members will provide assistance at various points along the course of the paddle, some of which are indicated on the river guide below.

If in difficulty you may egress at Swale View Caravan Park.

Guide to the River Swale - Grinton Bridge to Richmond

Access and registration at Grinton Bridge, down river from Reeth. Parking is very limited, please be considerate to other road users and make use of the shuttle.

3kms Marrick Priory 300m grade 2/3 rapids and standing waves. Assistance here.

6kms Short rapid and small river enters on left, be careful of left hand eddypool.

8kms Marske road bridge. No access or egress except in emergency.

8-11kms Fallen trees may prove hazardous, especially if river levels are high.

11km Swale View Caravan Park.

15.5 kms Road bridge with small rocky rapid below. Right hand arch in low water, middle (easier) opens up only in high water. We're hoping to be able to provide refreshments here again (river left before the bridge).

17kms Footbridge and Richmond comes into view - at last!

18.5 kms Road bridge. Splendid views of Richmond Castle on left.

19.5kms Egress on left above Richmond Falls. Take care in high water. Assistance here.

Richmond Falls are beyond the section of river included in the Charity Paddle. Take care not to paddle beyond the Falls Car Park unless you intend to shoot the falls, which can be dangerous in high water. Paddlers must provide their own safety cover (usually from boats) below the falls - S.O.C. are not able to provide
assistance on this drop. If in doubt, land on the central "island" to inspect. You can escape river left from here at low levels. If there is no island, levels are already dangerous - there is a closed circulation tow-back behind the falls from which escape would be extremely difficult.

The End

If you have obtained sponsorship ask one of the helpers to endorse your sponsor form.

There is a booth selling hot drinks and snacks here, they do wonderful hot chocolate so have some money with you!

You are welcome to go to use the hot showers at our clubhouse to and wait for drivers here. It's about a 5 minute walk from the end of the paddle; the helpers can give you directions.

Many thanks for supporting this fund raising event.

Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team

Great North Air Ambulance

Last Modified: 31 January, 2008