What a fantastic rodeo! Amazing prizes, smashing people, awesome party, and a full day’s sleep to recover. Nearly 600 students attended what was probably one of the biggest freestyle kayaking competitions ever held.

It was fantastic to see so many people go all in on the Wild West theme. Anyone who hadn’t spent the last month growing a beard went home Sunday night with a goatee drawn with permanent marker. Ace!

Liquid Satisfaction were indeed on form with Tim Trew finishing second in men’s expert, Adam Dumolo and Nick Horwood in the top ten. Nick won the Topo-Duo event, with Graham Milton, followed closely by Tim, who was paddling with Jon Fuller. Meanwhile I took the bronze for squirt and Sara James won the Desperate Measures sponsorship deal!

Through it all, I don’t think I have ever had as much fun as I did judging the women’s novice final. From girls with beards to girls with fireworks strapped to their heads! Scoring was tricky indeed. However Kayak-the-Nile’s Jamie Simpson was judging alongside me and we seemed to be consistent with each other.

Leeds, the overall winners of the event, donated their prize (a brand new Pyranha kayak) to second place University, Sheffield.

Photos from Tom Laws and Owen Jackson.