SUP Fun Race at the Bedford River Festival 2026

Bedford River Festival 2026 Watersport Arena by Canoe Trail at Kempston Outdoor Centre: Canoe Trail was proud to deliver the Watersports Arena, SUP Race and Adventure Village at the 2026 Bedford River Festival, continuing almost 20 years of involvement in one of Bedford's biggest and most popular events. Over the festival weekend, Bedford's River Embankment came alive with kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and exciting watersports displays, attracting thousands of visitors who enjoyed a packed programme of activities on and off the water. Bedford Watersports Arena: Visitors of all ages had the opportunity to get involved with a range of exciting activities, including: Come and Try It Kayaking sessions Come and Try It Canoeing sessions Come and Try It Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Come and Try It Zorbing Big Air Ramp Freestyle Kayak Display Team Slalom kayaking demonstrations featuring Olympic medallist Helen Reeves alongside paddlers from Viking Kayak Club Bedford SUP Race: The Bedford SUP Race was once again a fantastic success, welcoming competitors from Viking Kayak Club, Ride Leisure and paddleboarders from across the UK, with entrants travelling from as far as Liverpool. After an exciting race, Viking Kayak Club's Patrick O'Hara narrowly claimed victory once again, taking the top spot on the podium. Bedford Embankment Adventure Village: Away from the water, the Adventure Village offered plenty of family-friendly activities, including: Mobile climbing wall Axe throwing Soft target archery Gladiator inflatable challenge Slip 'n' Slide inflatable Bushcraft demonstrations Canoe & Brew Horsebox Café Slalom Kayak Display Team: A huge thank you to everyone who made the slalom demonstrations such a success: Helen Derby-Dowman – Olympic kayaking medallist and BBC Olympic commentator Charlie Derby-Dowman – Division 1 Slalom Kayaker Dillon and Carrys from Viking Kayak Club Canoe Polo Demonstration Tournament: Our thanks go to all the clubs that took part in the Viking Kayak Club-led Canoe Polo Tournament. It was fantastic to welcome teams from: Viking Kayak Club Meridian Canoe Polo Club Dragons Canoe Polo Club St Albans Canoe Polo Club The demonstrations were fast-paced, competitive and a real crowd favourite throughout the weekend. Big Air Ramp Freestyle Display Team: One of the festival highlights was the spectacular Big Air Ramp Freestyle Kayak Show. A massive thank you to the incredible athletes who wowed the crowds: Ottilie Robinson-Shaw – Nine-time Freestyle Kayaking World Champion Harry Price – British Freestyle Team member and World Cup silver medallist Ian Whitcombe – Former World Masters Freestyle Kayaking Champion Alex Reid – Team Squarerock Freestyle Kayaker Liam Robson – Professional freestyle coach and paddler Dean Buckingham – Former GB Whitewater Rafting paddler and England Slalom athlete Richard Harpham – Professional adventurer and wilderness guide Their incredible skills, commitment and enthusiasm made the displays one of the standout attractions of the festival. Thank You to Our Supporters: Events like this simply wouldn't be possible without the support of our partners and volunteers. A huge thank you to Red Paddle Co, Paddler, Bushcraft Show and Bamboo Clothing for generously supporting the Bedford SUP Race with prizes. Special thanks also go to Spitfire Scaffolding and Mark Butler Carpentry for constructing the impressive Big Air Ramp tower and assembling the ramps, and to Matt Stevens of Miltec Motors for expertly managing the electrical systems and power requirements throughout the event. Thank You, Bedford! Finally, our biggest thank you goes to the thousands of visitors who came along, cheered on the competitors, took photos, supported the display teams and embraced everything the Watersports Arena had to offer. Your enthusiasm, encouragement and energy are what make the Bedford River Festival such a special event. We feel incredibly fortunate to do what we love and can't wait to see everyone again at the next festival. #bedford #bedfordshire #kayak #canoe #standuppaddleboard #watersports #adventure #bushcraft