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Bedford/Bamberg Sports Festival

Bedford has been twinned with the beautiful city of Bamberg, in Bavaria, for over 30 years now.  For a large part of that time a sports festival has formed a significant part of the exchange programme, featuring around a dozen sports and alternating between the two venues of Bedford and Bamberg.

Canoeing has always been one of the sports included, with Viking Kayak Club representing Bedford, and the Bamberg Faltboot club e.v. our opposite numbers.  The next festival is scheduled to take place in Bamberg over the weekend of 19th/20th September 2009. The usual arrangements are to travel out on Friday and return the following Monday.  As far as is possible, accommodation would be in the homes of host families, with attention being given to the ages and sexes of participants.

The format of the weekend would usually include competitions in sprint and slalom (probably flat-water) as well as obstacle racing and “fisherstick” or jousting in open canoes. There may also be bell-boat racing. Hopefully there will be time over the weekend for sightseeing in the city and for some social paddling (there is an “easy” 10km circular route on the various rivers which surround the city).  The host club will usually organise a social at their well-appointed premises on the Saturday night and a closing ceremony for all the participating sports on the Sunday.

There is a serious element to the weekend in terms of competition between the two towns but the priority is to have fun, meet new canoeists from a different environment and possibly even sample the local smoked beer (in moderation, of course).

We need to know in the next 2 months that there is enough interest in the club to accept an invitation so if you think you may be interested see Mike Carter (at the club most Wednesdays) or telephone him on 01234 215441 or E-mail Pete Smart on smarty.smartsolutions@yahoo.co.uk to express an interest.