Cardington Artificial Slalom Course facts for kids
The course being used as flood overflow
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 Cardington Artificial Slalom Course
Location in Bedfordshire
Cardington Artificial Slalom Course
Location in the United Kingdom
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| Location | Cardington, Bedfordshire, England |
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| Coordinates | 52°7′37.42″N 0°25′44.03″W / 52.1270611°N 0.4288972°W |
| Type | Artificial whitewater canoe slalom course |
| Genre(s) | Sport |
| Construction | |
| Opened | July 1982 |
| Construction cost | £273,000 |
The Cardington Artificial Slalom Course (CASC) was the first man-made whitewater course in the UK. It was finished in July 1982. This course is used for canoe slalom, a sport where paddlers race through gates on moving water.
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What is an Artificial Whitewater Course?
The Cardington course is located on the River Great Ouse. It is near Cardington, Bedfordshire and inside Priory Country Park. This special course has two main jobs. First, it helps control floods in the river. Second, it provides a place for canoe slalom training and competitions.
How the Course Was Built
Building the course cost £273,000. Many groups worked together to pay for it. These included government departments and local councils. They saw it as a smart way to create a national sports facility. It was built by adapting a structure already needed for flood control.
How the Course Works
The course has a special gate called a "dropleaf control sluice." This gate is 9 meters wide and opens automatically. It connects the higher part of the river to the lower part. The channel itself is 120 meters long. It has a gentle slope to make the water flow.
To create the exciting whitewater, special fibreglass shapes are fixed to the channel's bottom. These are called "hippos" and "dollies." They make the water churn and create rapids. The water can drop up to 1.7 meters. It can also flow at a speed of 15 cubic meters per second.
Competitions and Events
Even though it was first meant for training, the course now hosts big events. It holds two national canoe slalom competitions each year. These events are for paddlers up to Division 2 level.
Every year, CASC also hosts the Inter Clubs Final. This is a huge event where top canoe slalom clubs compete. It runs all weekend, and people can even camp overnight. The Inter Clubs Final is the biggest canoe slalom event in the UK. It's a fun social gathering and a highlight of the sport's calendar.
A Vision Come True
In September 2007, the course celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston, visited for the celebration. The original goal was for CASC to become a major center for canoeing. This goal has definitely been achieved!
The Viking Kayak Club from Bedford helps organize the competitions at CASC. This club also arranges national events for kayak marathon racing. The Viking Kayak Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.
Other UK Whitewater Centres
- Lee Valley White Water Centre
- Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre
- Nene Whitewater Centre
- Tees Barrage White Water Course
