National Student Rodeo

National Student Rodeo was a freestyle kayaking event in the UK hosted by Leeds University Canoe Club. The National Student Rodeo was the biggest freestyle kayaking competition in the world, with 670 entrants and over 1000 party goers from 36 universities at its peak. It was held annually at Holme Pierrepont (HPP) National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.

Organisation The National Student Rodeo was organized and managed by a group of volunteers. Those in charge were responsible for booking the venue, coordinating university attendance, arranging camping, finding sponsors, promoting the event, and managing other necessary tasks. Event safety, first aid, judging, commentary, bar staffing, and general assistance were handled by members of LUUCC, River Legacy, and other volunteers.

The focus of the competition was always been on the "fun" aspect of the sport, in order to encourage participation from novice paddlers. This was mirrored in the prize-giving ceremonies, where the best prizes were saved for the novice and intermediate categories. However this was not to say that competition in the expert finals was not fierce. Many of the UK's best freestyle paddlers have competed at the event, former and current GB Freestyle Team members, loads of sponsored team paddlers and even more up-and-coming talent. The now legendary NSR parties were thoroughly compered and DJ'd to death by the Extreme Events crew, with waffle, banter, gibberish and occasionally the odd bit of useful information from DJ's Al, Shifty, Disco Dave and Tea Boy Tom. Extreme Events retired from the Rodeo in 2016 after a decade of brilliance.

The 'National Student Rodeo' name harks back to the olden days of kayaking, when freestyle was referred to as 'rodeo'. Although a renaming was briefly considered in 2004, 'The Rodeo' has stayed true to its roots.

Format

The core events for the competition was as follows:

Extreme Slalom - All competitors for K1 and C1 (Men's and Women's) entered this event to be seeded for the heats. Men's Novice K1 Men's Intermediate K1 Men's Expert K1 Women's Novice K1 Women's Intermediate K1 Women's Expert K1 C1 Squirt Topo Duo Open event

A "King of the Wave" invitational event was held in 2006 but this has not been continued - Jon Fuller remains the official NSR King of the Wave.

NSR MMX (2010) saw the introduction of 2 new events: 'Old Skool' replaced the traditional Open event and saw competitors hotdog it out in boats and kit pre-2000 with Dave Burne of York coming out on top. There was also in the introduction of the "Kukri Sofa Cross" which saw 80 competitors race down the course at Holme Pierrepont on inflatable sofas.

In 2020 a Boater X style event was organised by Matt Wallace. It saw a timed race with "le mans" start (starting on the bank outside of kayaks) and groups of competitors race to lap the course through slalom gates.

While the competition took up the daytime schedule of the Rodeo, most students attended for the parties that took place on the Friday and Saturday night in the rugby club and marquee. While Friday night saw most of the universities arriving on site around 8PM, there was still plenty of fun to be had, and the bars stayed open until 2AM. However, Saturday was the big party organised by River Legacy, and saw all of the participants in their fancy dress finery attending. The festival atmosphere and legendary parties earn the Rodeo its place as the best student kayaking event of the year.

Other highlights of the weekend included 'Up-time': the time of day when all competitors are woken up from their slumbers (normally with the aid of a megaphone) to make sure that they attend their heats and fit into the hectic schedule that results from the fact that the organisers must fit in time for nearly 700 competitors to have at least two runs down the course.

Sponsorship

Long-term sponsors of the NSR included PGL, Desperate Measures canoe and kayak shop, Palm Equipment / Dagger Europe and Pyranha. Many of the sponsors donated hugely both in terms of money and prizes for the events, as well as providing food for the volunteers, supporting equipment for the Safety team, and essential supplies for the First Aid team.

Media

Due to its size and reputation, the media presence surrounding the event evolved over time. For example, in 2007 the event was trailed online with several humorous videos which can be found here. The 2008 event was filmed by Liquid Satisfaction and was sold as a DVD. This has since been released as a free podcast and both can be found at maxbilbow.com. The event has also been covered by Canoe & Kayak, Kayak Session, and The Paddler magazines.

Local news broadcasters have also covered the event - one such report can be seen here.

History

Year Event organiser(s) Overall winners Colour Party Theme Official T-shirt slogan(s)2023Rachel Jones and Yael MayEvent cancelled!Black, red, yellow, blue Retirement PartyLong live the rodeo2020Matt Wallace and Kate LovedayNottinghamGreenGames Night2019Ruby Pelling and Chloe RyanNotthinghamTurquoise & PurpleA Journey Through Time2018John Docherty and Amie ShuteEvent cancelled due to snow!GreenCountries of the WorldRodeo Makes The World Go Round2017Beth Preston and Struan FishburnNottinghamBlueThe Apocalypse2016Rhys Williamson and Simon NorthNottinghamRedChristmas?2015Simon North and Sarah WaddingtonSheffieldBlue / TurquoiseCarnival??2014Andy Canavan and Sam NewmanNottinghamBlueHeroes & Villains??2013Tom Oram and Harry GraceNottinghamRedCircus?2012Beth Morgan and Jake WardSouthamptonGreenJungle?2011Nicola Underhill and Jethro HouseNottinghamOrange/YellowBeach Party? 2010 Andy Jaunzems and Peter Haynes Leeds Purple Ancient Civilizations ? 2009 Luke Farrington and Paul Wilkinson Leeds Blue Space ? 2008 Tim Trew and Nick Horwood Nottingham Trent Green Pirates Yarrrrrrr 2007 Adam Dumolo and Sara James Leeds Red Wild West The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (three separate designs) 2006 Sara James and Sam Ward Sheffield Ginger '70s ? 2005 Tim Stevenson Loughborough Blue Bad Taste (Regular) Its a rodeo Jim, but not as we know it / (Judges) Those who can, do. Those who can't, judge / (Safety) Don't you worry, its going to be all right 2004 Kirsty Archibald Leeds Green School Disco Lick my deck / Rodeo at its breast 2003 Will Hemming Leeds Yellow Gangsters & Molls I used to be a rodeo champion but my horse drowned 2002 Will Hemming Leeds Black No theme, just a big party in a big field nowhere near HPP! ? 2001 Ian Wood and Karen Evans Event cancelled due to Foot and Mouth - - - 2000 Steve Blagg and Lynne Wallis ? ? ? ? 1999 - ??

1998 - ??

1997 - Arran Stephenson and Rachel Sutton

1996 - Arran Stephenson and Paul Shelly

National Student Rodeo

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