Boat Sale at Brookbank

Boat Sale at Brookbank

See below for just some of the amazing deals on a wide range of canoes and kayaks from Brookbank. Includes Ex display, ex demo, end of line models at discounts ranging from 15% to 50% off. First come first served.

Please call nearest store for info / to order. All boats for collection only.

Brookbank Huge Sale!

Brookbank Climbing Is Launched

The New Brookbank Climbing Department at our Lancaster branch has finally be launched and the department is now fully stocked and ready for your custom. Come and visit us instore and have a look round all our new shiny gear.

Halton Demo Day CANCELLED

Brookbank Lancaster Halton Demo Day CANCELLED

Due to the current weather Halton rapids is now well into spate conditions, meaning it would not be sensible or safe to continue with running the day. We will do our best to spread this information at such short notice but if you know of people who were going to be attending the demo please could you pass this information out to save them the wasted trip.

Please look out for information on this site regarding the rearranged date for the demo day.

Many thanks

Brookbank Lancaster Team

Halton Demo Day Sunday Feb 6th 2011

FAO All Local Canoe Clubs and Paddlers

Brookbank Lancaster are hosting a demo day in February at Halton Rapids on the River Lune. We will be bringing a wide variety of white water Demo kayaks to these events for all those attending to try out. We are hoping to get a good turn out from all the local canoe clubs and local paddlers. This Demo day will be completely free of charge to paddlers to try out any and all of the boats we bring along.

The event is planned for Sunday the 6th February 2011 and the event will run from 10am until 4pm or until everyone gets to cold and goes home. The event will be run from a car park at the top of Mill Lane next to Halton Rapids on river right of the Lune. It is just off junction 34 of the M6 at Lancaster and I have attached a map to assist paddlers with the location of where the event will be run from and where vehicles can be parked during the event.

Obviously we will bring as many boats as possible and any special requests can be forwarded to myself at this email address and we will attempt to accommodate them, but also paddlers are encouraged to bring there own boats and generally just have a good day out on the water. Please note that paddlers will have to bring all there own kit and paddles as this will not be supplied.

If clubs and paddlers could send an email with any interest and some suggested numbers for attendance in order to give us some idea before the event it would be greatly appreciated. Also on receiving this email if there is anyone you can think of that would benefit from this email please forward it on.

Final Note, paddlers will be paddling at there own risk and should be competent to paddle to the conditions of the water on the day and safety or instruction will not be supplied by Brookbank.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the water.

Craig (Brookbank Lancaster Manager)

Email: craigjones@brookbank.co.uk

Road Map of Halton Rapids Location

Craig gets out in the OC1 again

Well after this weeks success running the Lune I thought it would be a good idea to hit the Kent and the Leven and see what this Mowhawk boat can do. It was great I had a run down the Kent with no swims and good lines on all the rapids and then fun down the Leven but with a couple of swims but still great fun.....

Check ou my little VIDEO of how the day went.

Me (Craig) running the weir above fishermans Island on the Leven

Craig tries his hand at OC1

Well as you may have guessed I (Craig) can be usually found out on the rivers in my trusty nomad however yesterday I decided it was time for a change and time to do some real product testing. So me and Mark Burch (Brookbank Director) headed out to the upper lune for me to have a go in the new range of White Water Open Canoes from Mohawk. I have never done white water OC1 so this could only end in laughter but I thought it was worth it. So with Mark in his kayak to pick up the pieces when I swam we set off with me in the Mohawk Viper 12. The day didn't start well with a swim in the first 10 yards but I persisted and very quickly got used to the tippy boat with no swims on any of the major rapids just 5 more whilst ferry gluiding and eddie hopping as to be expected in a boat like this. But the day was a great one full of new found nerves and excitment deffinatley a new side of boating I will start pursuing.

Me (Craig) on the strid



Mark running the Strid

Long time no post!

Well its been a while since my last post, this isn't because we've not been up to anything only that we've been up to to much and been to busy, we've had another trip to Scotland surfing in Pembrokeshire days out climbing and much more boating. Also the Lancaster shop has had a face lift inside and now looks great. With a trip also to Germany to see lots of new products at Kannumesse. But anyway that was just a quick note to catch up and let everyone know were back on track for more regular posts.

Green Boat wins the battle

This Sunday the three strong staff team Me (Craig), Guy and little Tom headed for the Tryweryn we took with us the mighty Green Boat for some extra entertainment. Although I have had the pleasure of using the green boat before on the Tryweryn it still never ceases to amaze me how great it is. We all had our turn with everyone pushing it as hard as they could to get the best move or the most air. However on the final run the day was made when I (Craig) whilst paddling the green boat was met by two paddlers in the famous Topo Duo and challenge was set King of the wave was called at Cafe wave with a good audience and lots of other boaters I am pleased to say the Green Boat won, but the challengers were worthy opponents.

Me (Craig) fighting for king of the wave in the Green Boat against the Topo Duo



Me (Craig) surfing the Nomad



Me (Craig) powering through in the Green Boat



Little Tom getting the POP out in his chico



Guy boofing the Green Boat



Guy getting the Claw



Little Tom in the very Big Green Boat!

The Brookbank boys head to Scotland!

Well been a while since the last post however we have been out and got some good rivers done but not much to write home about. But that's all changed as Me (Craig) and as many of the others as we could manage to get in one place at the same time headed off to Scotland. With a strong team of 13 we headed for Glen Etive for some good wild camping and luckily some even better water levels. On day one the group was split with 5 heading off towards Fort William and 8 staying down in the Glen, the day started with a sporting run of the Etive at good levels and then a supreme run of the Allt a' Chaoruinn which was an amazing experience with only good things to say.
That night we headed to the Morriston for some more wild camping and some early runs of the upper and lower Morriston the next day, ending with a drive back towards the Etive for a lower run down that and some playtime on Right Angle. It was a brilliant two days spent with a great bunch of boaters there were plenty of pics and vids taken and below is a link to video we made of a few of us running one of the Etive Tribs.

Allt a' Chaoruinn VIDEO

Trip to the Washburn

Today Me (Craig) and Little Tom decided due to the very low levels in the rivers, we would head over to the Washburn for the Sunday release. This also seemed like a good opportunity to try out my new Dagger Kingpin play boat, which did not fail to impress me.

Me (Craig) playing in the weir and getting some ends!

River Leven bridge works!

Today after work Me (Craig), Little Tom and John headed to the Leven for an after work paddle, with an interest of exploring the current works and scaffolding that had been put up on Back Barrow bridge. The river was at a reasonable summertime level and was worth a paddle. The works at Back Barrow now mean that the rapid under the bridge is not runnable, which is a real shame as this was a very pleasant main event on the river. Also two new differences is the work done on Back Barrow wier which has really changed the wier and for some reason it is holding back a substantial amount of water and channeling it down the flood gates. As well as this there is also a tree in the weir above the rapids under the road bridge, which used to be a great play spot...

Back Barrow Bridge from above



Back Barrow Bridge from below



Back Barrow Weir



Back Barrow Weir from below



Little Tom running the fish steps

More rain more boating :)

Another day of rain meant another after work run which means this week just keeps getting better. This time the guys headed up for a look at the lower clough just to check the levels and it was deffinatley going at a real good level. Not quite a spate run but a proper good high. So Me, Dave, Mike, Tom and Little Tom headed for the get on. Another awesome run down a reliably good river with some good lines to be had, meaty stoppers and even some classic beat downs (but not for me ha ha). Also a mighty play wave formed just on the Rawthey near the get out with fun had by all.

Mike on the Big Wier on the Lower Clough

Little Tom on the Big Wier on the Lower Clough

Me (Craig) playing on the play wave on the Rawthey

Dave firing off the top of the play wave on the Rawthey

Artle Beck goes down a treat!

After work paddles are becoming a regular occurance at the moment and the rain keeps on coming, me and the guys had hopes to get the local and well kept secret run of Artle Beck done with all this rain. So Me, Ant, Jonny and Dave headed for the get out and it was on. However many times I do this run I can never get bored of it, even if it's full of trees and requires four tricky portages! Check out the VIDEO and see for yourself.

Rain is back GOOD TIMES!

Yesterday we had, had rain all day and expectations were high so we headed straight to the rivers after work with a good run down the Lower Clough achieved. The good news is the rain is still coming so there is more after work boating to be had...watch this space.

The boys Fire up the Alps!

Well this year has been OK for boating so far but nothing special, so some months ago it was discussed that all the local lakes boaters would try and get together for some summer alpine boating and try and fire up some of the classics. So on Tuesday 6th July 3 of us started our journey in the good old reliable VW van loaded with kit we headed for the Alps. Me, Guy and Dave were met in France by Atty, Pilky, Jonny and Ewart all of whom had made there own way there. We were ready to go and fire it up. We worked our way through the classics like the Durance, Guill, Briancon Gorge, Gizane, Guyronde, Onde, Ubay, Chatuex Queras, Gardian Angel and many more. For me as an Alpine first timer it was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to develop my boating skills. We didn't get many pictures due to the unstoppable nature of the kayaking out there but what we did get will be put up on the blog asap.......

Me (Craig) on the big drop on Le Fournel



Me (Craig) on the Gizane

Long Time no post!

Well it has been a while since the last post this is due mainly to the lack of rain and lack of boating with only the standard trips to the Tryweryn to keep us happy. However after a long wait The Alps trip was due to take place and our story follows in the next Brookbank Lancaster post.

No water so headed to the lakes for an Open Boat Adventure

Lack of rain and no desire to drive all the way to north wales again I (Craig) and becky headed out in the open boats for a day exploring lake Windermere and just to have a generally relaxing day on the water.

Me (Craig) having a rare mellow day out in the open boat......a very chilled day out!

Green Boat goes to the Tryweryn!

Today me (Craig) and the chaps (Ant, Dave and Bob) headed to the Tryweryn due to more dry summer days, but this time with a twist. For a long time I have wanted to paddle in the famous Dagger Green Boat, a kayak designed specifically for the Green River Race in America. I know the Tryweryn doesn't exactly fulfill the needs of this specialist Dagger boat but it was a real great laugh. It's super fast when hitting eddie lines, running straight through big holes and surfs like a super huge surf board. A great day in the sun on the water, also whilst at Cafe wave local legend Andy Turton displayed an interest in the boat and jumped straight in for some playtime, Check out Andy's website www.andyturton.com for some great boating courses.
In conclusion the Dagger Green Boat is amazing and if I had the spare cash it would definitely be in my arsenal of boats.

Me (Craig) in the Dagger Green Boat running Chapel Falls on the Tryweryn

Me (Craig) surfing the Dagger Green Boat in Cafe Wave on the Tryweryn

Legend Andy Turton having a cheeky surf in the Dagger Green Boat on Cafe Wave on the Tryweryn

Two Great Days on the Moriston

Well the sun has been shining, the rivers are dry and times are getting desperate. So plans were made and a team was found to head to Scotland for some glorious summer time Dam release rivers. After a long drive up on the evening of Bank Holiday Monday and some midge infested wild camping we headed up to the River Moriston a dam release river just south of Inverness. The team consisted of Me (Craig), Ant, Ewart, Rob and the hardcore little Tom who had days before turned 14. We also met up with two other boaters at the get on called Bob and Grandad who decided to join our group and make a good 7 strong team. We had several runs of the upper section a solid grade 4 in the glorious summer sun, and then 5 of us headed to the lower section to fire it up at a respectable grade 4+ we hit it hard and nailed all the lines without any real dramas. After a long day and time to get off we headed to a local campsite for BBQ and Beers and discuss the successes of the day. The next day we headed back to the Moriston to fire it up one more time before they switched off the dam, a good run of the top section and an even better run of the lower put an end to a great two days on the Moriston. We then headed to the River Gary another Dam release river on the way home towards Fort William. The Gary is a Grade 3 fun run and has some good play features but nothing to match that of the Moriston but still a great way to spend a hot summers afternoon. I have put on some pics of the two days in Scotland and also check out our VIDEO of the Moriston.

Me (Craig) rocking the top drop on the Moriston and nailing the line

Me (Craig) on the lower section of the Moriston



Bob nailing the line in his Big Dog OC1 (Proper Hardcore)



Little Tom Aged 14 rocking into the top drop....impressive!



Rob dropping in and about to go deep



Ewart nailing the line in the Blisstick playboat

All the boys having a pic at the bottom of the upper section
Left Rob, Center Me (Craig), Right Ewart, and Little Tom up front...

4 Star Assessment PASSED!

This weekend me (Craig) and Ant returned to North Wales for our 4 star kayak assessment, this took place with one day at the Tryweryn on the lower section and the other above JJ's on the Dee. The weather was great nice and not with cool water, which made the swimming bits even more fun. After lots of exercises, river running, leading and scenarios we both finished the course with a pass. The weekend was not only great fun but very informative and I would suggest anyone wanting similar kayak or canoe courses, checks out the course provider Andy Nobletts WEBSITE!

Me (Craig) running Bala Mill Falls Lower Tryweryn



Ant running Bala Mill Falls Lower Tryweryn



Me (Craig) body surfing on the bottom wave at JJ's