Brookbank Warwick

2012-01-26T16:25:00.001Z

Xciting times at Brookbank.

Brookbank will be launching their new 2012 Catalogue during the month of February

The New 2012 Brookbank Catalogue takes on a completely new format and style with even more exciting content and reflects the company's new image and direction.

As well as being THE resource for paddlesports equipment the new catalogue features dedicated sections on Climbing, Sailing and Stand Up paddle boarding..

Available in store or register your details on line at www.brookbank.co.uk for your free copy.

As always you can keep updated with the new and exciting developments at Brookbank via our website or Facebook,

2011-12-31T12:01:00.001Z

Happy New Year to All!, may next year be filled with plenty of watery advetnures.

A non inspiring title for an excellent film

2011-12-23T09:27:00.000Z

We came across this video on the internet and thought we would share it with you. After reading the title we were sure it would be a safety video but WOW what a great river!

High Sierra Safety (a full length film)

Enjoy!

Brookbank Gift Service

2011-12-20T16:11:00.001Z

Are you planning on getting married in 2012 or have another special occasion coming up?

Whether you're getting married, a birthday or any important milestone in your life, family and friends may want to mark the occasion with a special gift that suits you down to the ground. Make it easy for them and let the team here at Brookbank make that happen with our special wedding and gift accounts.

Simply give your local store a call with your details and they will set you up an account. All you need to do is let your family and friends know (they will need to know your surname and post code) They can then call the store and add a donation to your account with a special personalised message to you.

When you are ready you can visit any of our stores and choose exactly what you have been longing for!! Easy!!

Terms & Conditions
Credit accumulated on the account can be used in store or by mail order on any goods that Brookbank stocks. No cash refunds or payments are permitted on gift accounts. There is no time limit to use the credit by.

Merry Christmas from Brookbank Warwick

2011-12-19T17:06:00.000Z

Last Chance for Christmas Delivery

2011-12-19T10:56:00.000Z

Brookbank Warwick Night Paddle - 1st December 2011

2011-12-03T12:39:00.000Z

A night paddle for many people is something that is often talked about and never really done; it is a great way to see the water from a different perspective and even a well-known river becomes virtually unknown as the shadows and darkness cover landmarks both near and far.

On what can only be described as a ‘fresh’ 1^st December 11 paddlers met on a very dark and shady car park just upstream of Stratford upon Avon, faces that were familiar became only recognisable by voice in the dark. We swiftly kitted up and got onto the water, some looking more like Christmas trees because of the assorted lights and glow sticks attached to them, and headed off into the darkness. The trip down to Stratford, goes past several rather nice houses and we had chance to peer into the windows on the way past as the occupiers threw another log onto the fire in their warm cozy houses making several people quite envious. On the water the swans were very curious to see what had disturbed their peace and quiet and were keen to investigate these night travellers. Guided in by the bright lights of the Shakespeare theatre we were soon into the town section where we dealt with a capsize and headed past the bright lights and back into the darkness passing Holy Trinity Church which looked very picturesque all lit up.

Once at the lock and weir pool, the group split into 2; those that wanted to run the weir and those that were quite happy saving the weir for daylight. I headed off with the weir group and once we had negotiated the floating barrier that prevents leisure boats heading over the weir we assembled at the top of the weir. One by one the group headed down the weir into the roar of the waves below (OK so the weir isn’t that big but the darkness amplifies the noise to a roar) the three other boats made it down the weir totally uneventfully, leaving me at the top of the weir and my turn to go down. Well I could go into detail but I won’t, the fact is I swam out of the open boat and blimey that water was chilly! After a swift re-entry we had a brief paddle at the bottom of the weir and decided it was time to head back upstream towards the cars.

As I mentioned earlier, the darkness can make even well-known rivers seem alien, and several times on the way back upstream we all found ourselves heading into the bank or up into dead ends as the river slowly meanders. By now the mist rising off the water and being illuminated by torchlight was looking spectacular and creating scenes off horror movies but just as the moon was adding to the effect we reached the car park and the get out point.

We would like to thank everyone who came along and took part – we had a great time.

Keep an eye out on our facebook page and blog for details of other trips, courses and night paddles in 2012.

Keith

Christmas Opening Hours

2011-11-24T09:54:00.000Z

Just so you can plan your last minute shopping here is our opening hours over the festive period.

Fri 23rd December 2011 - OPEN 9:30 to 5:45
Sat 24th December 2011 - CLOSED

Sun 25th December 2011 - CLOSED
Mon 26th December 2011 - CLOSED
Tue 27th December 2011 - CLOSED
Wed 28th December 2011 - OPEN 9.30 to 4
Thur 29th December 2011 - OPEN 9.30 to 4
Fri 30th December 2011 - OPEN 9.30 to 4
Sat 31st December 2011 - OPEN 9.30 to 4
Sun 1st December 2011 - CLOSED
Mon 2nd December 2011 - OPEN 10 TO 4
Tues 3rd December 2011 - OPEN AS USUAL

Brookbank Warwick Night Paddle

2011-11-24T09:49:00.000Z

If you want to come on our night paddle and haven't yet signed up at http://www.brookbankcourses.co.uk/warwickeveningpaddles/ you need to, we will be sending confirmation of meeting places and further details out on Monday 28th November.

It is essential that all people who are planning to attend sign up, all people will get a goodie bag.

Brookbank Warwick Night Paddle

2011-11-10T09:38:00.000Z

Many people talk of doing a night paddle but never do it. Here is your chance to get out on the water in the safety of a group and experience the sensation of paddling on a river at night. We will be taking to the River Avon on one of its flatter sections for a couple of hours on 1st December 2011 at 7pm.

All participants will need to sign up so we know what numbers to anticipate, the final details of meeting location will be given closer to the date when river levels are known and we also have clearer idea of final numbers.

To sign up go to the Brookbank Courses website http://www.brookbankcourses.co.uk/warwickeveningpaddles/

Another NEW member of staff!

2011-07-08T14:50:00.002+01:00

Thats right, We have ANOTHER new member of staff at Brookbank Warwickshire. Adam! He is a very keen play boater and just loves paddling. Say "Hi" when you next come into the shop.

We will upload a pic as soon as we can.

New Member of staff

2011-07-02T09:24:00.000+01:00

Although Hayley has been a face that some of you will have seen for a while - she said she's camera shy so we used stealth tactics to get hold of this photo.

Brookbank sponsored James Bebbington takes Gold in Men's K1

2011-07-02T09:22:00.003+01:00

Brookbank sponsored James Bebbington takes Gold in Men's K1

The World Championships for me had a pretty dream ending, taking home the Gold Medal in Mens K1!!!

Throughout the event i’d not really paddled at the level I knew I could. I knew I was being too relaxed, not aggressive enough. For the finals I focused on pumping myself up as hard as I could and getting ready to have the fight of my life.

First ride didn’t go my way but I was feeling more myself for sure. 2nd ride I just gave it everything I had and got 1020 pts. The leading score at that point but definately not unbeatable, so 3rd ride i went even harder. I didn’t go as big as my 2nd ride but squeezed in a few extra moves to get 1053 points.

Then i had to watch as 4 great kayakers, Gerd, Nick, Stephen and Peter all went and gave it their all trying to beat my score. They all paddled great and Peter, who is a deadly competitor and amazing kayaker, very nearly got me. Finally though, luck and timing went my way and I took the win!!!

I never felt so good as when the results came out and I could see everyones faces. All my friends, family, Katya and many of the people who helped and supported me over the years all around enjoying the moment. And then all the GB team piling on top of me and sinking me. Seeing how happy and emotional Terry Best (friend and supporter for years) was was so so nice. Then seeing Guigui’s face after finally one of his amazing designs the Easymix 2008 got to the top!

The whole experience was one of the best moments in my life!

Standing on the podium it was exactly how it looked when i visualized it

The whole event was such a fun time. Always something going on, great people, perfect water levels. Robson, the ICF and the judging team did a great job pulling it off!

Big props should also go out to GB’s Claire O’hara who won Gold in Squirt and Womens K1 and Palm’s Bren Orton who took the Bronze in the Junior Mens!

The journey I took to this point is pretty unusual. I loved kayaking since i was 12 and loved to freestyle kayak almost as long. After competing for most of my junior years i’d had a few successes but lost my way a bit about 4 years ago when I got a bit distracted by the party scene. I had a great time then but forgot what it was that i really wanted to do with my life.

I was working as a video kayaker on the Nile with NRE working for Davey O’hara with my buddy Anton and I was having a great time there. On the river every day, partying every night but at the same time i felt not truly happy.

I was missing something. About 3 months after i moved to Uganda I met Katya and together we at first went harder than ever in the bar but she also was so fired up on Freestyle that I began to find my fire for it again. Gradually my focus went off the bar and back onto being in my boat; surfing, catching air and throwing tricks. At this point i saw how Peter Csonka was training hard and kicking ass and I really admired his focus and determination. It was then I decided I was going to be a World Champion one day.

So we left Uganda and started to compete and train hard. Over time we got more and more successful in our competing and this last two years have been amazing. A win at last year’s World Cup, 2nd in the Europeans and now the World Champs Gold. It really has been the best couple of years.

We train hard and have done lots of work to get to this point and Katya has been the best coach you could have.
She also introduced me to many new ideas and approaches to life, we eat only raw fruit and vegetables for a start, we hardly drink any more and we meditate daily. All these aspects she introduced me to have had a profound effect on my happiness and kayaking. Life is for enjoying and improving yourself, this is what makes it so fun.

My next goals are to keep improving as a person, get my wave kayaking to the same level as my hole kayaking, keep competing on the highest levels, help Katya to get her goals, see more new places and to keep pushing ourselves and our kayaking as far as we can!

I have so many people to thank for getting me to this point: Shep, Sneaky, Terry and the whole Best family, Pete Caterall, Hippy Dave, Tim Ward, Jacko, Pete Astles, Sam Ward and Dennis Newton, Matt Chadder and Dickie. Wigan Canoeing Groups Eric Bradbury, Bob Andrews and Will Potts. Elton, Tim, Simon and Sophie from Reaseheath College.

All the Uganda/ NRE crew particularly Davey and Timmy.

My friends who made this year so good and fun, Aniol and Gerd Serrasolses, Martin Koll, Emily Wall, Bartosz, Irish Tom, Mathieu, Sam Ward and Anton Immler & everyone who was at the WW GP event.

Guigui for making the best freestyle Kayaks out there!

EJ, Mathieu Dumoulin, Peter Csonka, Rush Sturges, Pat Camblin and all the Tribe athletes and GB / Palm’s Cheesy for giving me continued inspiration and ambition.

My Sponsors Mark Burch at Brookbank Canoe Stores, Cheesy and everyone at Palm Equipment for the amazing kit and Arnd and everyone at Teva Shoes. Thanks to them all for giving me the opportunity to train full time in pursuit of my goals!

The biggest thanks though go to my Mum, Dad and Katya. They’re the ones who have shaped my life the way it is and are my biggest supporters!

So happy right now. Do only what you enjoy most!

Pringle

A quick round up of new products in store now

2011-03-25T15:55:00.000Z

This is a very exciting time of the year for us as a store, many of the products we first heard about over 6 months ago are starting to come into the store having finally been launched by the suppliers.

First up:

Playboating hits the “X” level with the revolutionary Project X. A head-turner in both design and performance, dial-in and experience explosive pop, easy releases, and smooth, crisp control of any wave. Sizing options and volume displacement are fine-tuned for the most comfortable performance imaginable. Start living the lifestyle in the next generation of Wave Sport's long line of championship-worthy freestyle kayaks.

Features

Multi-adjustable, contoured hip pads
Removable Rear Thigh Hook
Adjustable, Padded Thigh Brace
Forward Ratcheting Backband
F.A.T. WhiteOut Outfitting System
Two deep pocket grab handles
Customizable foam bulkhead system

Length:	6'1"	185 cm
Width:	26.75"	68 cm
Deck Height:	14.25"	36 cm
Weight:	34 lbs	15.5 kg
Cockpit Length:	36.25"	92 cm
Cockpit Width:	20"	51 cm
Paddler Weight:	180 - 250 lbs	82 - 114 kg
Volume:	64 gal	242 L

Next:

The Kayak deck bag that is flying out of the door!

The Kayak Deck Bag from Overboard is a waterproof roll-top Kayak bag with 6 side buckle connectors for secure and easy fastening to the deck of your kayak.

The Overboard Kayak Deck Bag is constructed from 600D PVC tarpaulin and seals tight by way of the easy to use Fold Seal System™.

Also includes a removable shoulder strap for easy transportation, and a front weatherproof accessories / document pocket with storage webbing.

Features

Main compartment electronically welded seams
Front weatherproof zip pocket
Floats safely if dropped in water
Durable, wipe-clean and easy to store away
Multipurpose storage application
Heavy duty and durable materials for rough usage
6 side buckle connectors for easy and secure fastening
Fully adjustable and removable shoulder strap
Front storage webbing

Size Guide - Sealed Dry Tube

Height: 43cm / 16.9"
Top Width: 30cm /11.8"
Bottom Width: 26cm / 10.2"
Depth: 14cm / 5.5"
Capacity: 1200 cubic inches (20 Litres)

Note:Dimensions quoted are for a sealed Kayak bag after rolling neck over plastic fastener 3 times. Add roughly 20cm for the bags open height.

Ready for more?

The Handi Kart by Handiworld is a rugged and light Trolley for transporting your kayak or canoe.

Simple and effective in design the Handi Kart folds down making it easy to stow away and with the ability to carry up to 150 kilos it can transport a fully laden boat whilst still been able to operate on a variety of surfaces. Fits a wide variety of craft from sea kayaks to canoes, sit on tops to dingys

Exceptional levels of manoeuvrability with High Ground Clearance
All-terrain capability using unique wheel design
One person operation
Click on and off rugged wheels

These and many more are in store now!!
Pop along and check them out

Lorna has been to Sweden!!

2011-02-16T10:34:00.000Z

Planning your holiday? Look no further than a wilderness experience in Sweden

Colin and Alison Smith loved Sweden so much that they moved out there. They bought a campsite on the banks of the Klaralven river and set up an outfitting business hiring out canoes and kit and providing a shuttle service for the many wilderness trips on their doorstep. Last Year they invited myself and my husband Mark to sample what they have to offer out there.

Last September, Mark and I flew to Torpe near Oslo with Ryan Air, caught a train to Oslo and were then picked up by Colin for a 3 hour drive to his home, a charming traditional Swedish house on the banks of the Klaralven River . Alison his wife had prepared a hot meal and had already packed everything ready for the trip for the following morning, so we could relax with a few glasses of wine the night before (the easiest preparation of any wilderness trip that I have ever done!!) The plan was to do a 3 day wilderness trip on the Svartalven river followed by a day’s paddling on their local Klaralven River.

The next morning the four of us loaded the car with the barrels and the dry bags and strapped two composite Gatz Prospector canoes on to the trailer. En route to the drop off point Colin and Alison took us to their campsite which they had just closed for the winter. An excellent site on the banks of the Klaralven. Visitors can either just stay and enjoy the tranquillity of the site or be a bit more adventurous and employ the equipment and shuttle services of Colin and Alison and go on a single or multiday canoe trip. As well as pitches for your tents the campsite also has stugas on site. These are little wooden huts with their own balcony and basic amenities such as a fridge, beds and table and chairs - an alternative for those visitors wanting something a little bit more substantial than canvas as their shelter.

We left the campsite and headed on to pick up their friend Fred who drove us to the get on point an hour and a half away at Tyfors.

We finally set off on the tranquil waters of the Svatalven at about noon. The river was wide at this point and there was an immediate sense of remoteness even though in reality a road was not far away. The dense forests on the bank were wild and impenetrable and there were lots of evidence of beaver activity. We had never paddled the Gatz Prospector before and we were soon impressed by how smoothly it cut through the water fully loaded

After lunch we had 2 portages to navigate. The first was short and straightforward. The second was a little longer and the canoe trolleys were indispensable to pull the canoes along the road for approx half a mile. We got back on the water under a dam at a very picturesque point in the river where it had narrowed down quite considerably.

Eventually the river widened out again and we reached our first stop over, a designated camping spot ideal for people on multi day trips complete with fire, pit and wooden shelter. The banks are dotted with camping spots like these, some with a drop toilet to try and help reduce pressure on the local environment. Mark and I set up camp overlooking the river and then we went searching for fire wood. We dragged back the wood we had collected passing a bright orange mushroom the size of a dinner plate on the forest floor. Mark then set about chopping the firewood while Colin went for a solitary paddle in the fading light on the hunt for beaver activity. As the darkness came so did the stars and the stillness and peacefulness of the riverside were framed by the twinkling overhead. We enjoyed a hearty meal of venison, bacon and pasta round the campfire, feasted our eyes on the stars once more and then went to bed.

The next day the river became much narrower and twisting which enhanced the sense of remote wilderness. It was a clear sunny day and the mirror image of the trees lining the banks seemed to plunge down towards the river bed, a reflection only spoilt by the eventual rippling as we cut through the water.

The river eventually opened up and we came to a point where Alison and Colin would normally veer right to complete a circular route their customers used quite regularly. However we paddled on past this point – so it was new ground to us all!!

The second campsite was bigger than the first with 2 fireplaces which we took advantage of. We sat around one of the fires and cooked on the other – and boy did we cook a lot!! Mark and Colin made pizza garlic bread which was then followed by meat balls and potatoes – we had planned on a third course of barbecued bananas stuffed with chocolate but our stomachs could take no more so we retreated to our sleeping bags defeated.

The final morning the river opened up into a lake as we progressed to a more built up area with lodges dotting the river bank. We portaged a dam in the town and got back in the river at a much narrower and faster flowing point. The nature of the river once more became twisty and remote and we stopped for lunch in the sun. Soon after our lunch stop the river became wider once again as we headed towards the town of Hallefors. We knew our journey would soon be over as the river hinted at the built up area to come with mills and houses increasingly scattering the banks and the horizon line. Our wilderness trip would be over within the hour

The next day after a night back in civilisation we headed out to the Klaralven River to paddle from Karabro to Branas while trying out a few more of the Gatz canoes recommended by Alison and Colin, the Orca and the Yaqui – very different canoes and both really good to paddle.

The river was large and very wide with lots of water with a good flow for much of the stretch but nothing more than grade one. The scenery was stunning made ever more poignant by the sighting of an elk and its baby on the banks of the river as we paddled on by.

This image is a fitting memoir for our time in Sweden as it epitomises its proximity to nature and we would highly recommend not only the country but also Colin and Alison’s set up there. They are trying to make this experience accessible to all. The trips that they organise are well thought out – they are remote yet safe with easy access if needed. They also approach the trips in a highly flexible manner and are happy to shorten or extend the trips with very little notice according to the needs of their customers

Find out more by visiting

www.bynscamping.se and www.klaralvdalenkanot.com

The New 2011 Ultimate Catalogue - OUT NOW!!

2011-02-16T10:30:00.000Z

For many years now we have produced the industry leading ultimate catalogue and the new 2011 edition is out now

Order online HERE

View it online HERE

Or pop in and pick one up!!

Stuck for a 5 minute filler with the kids over half term?

2010-10-23T14:23:00.000+01:00

Why not get them to colour these paddling pages in?

Just click on the picture, it will come up full size then you can print them off.

The Brookbank Photo Competition

2010-10-23T12:27:00.002+01:00

I am sure you as many of us do, have a bunch of photo albums laying around somewhere with some photos of past times. I myself the other day was flicking through some old albums and found some paddling photos from my times at University.

After running into the office one Monday morning we decided to hold of competition to show case everyones best paddling photos. Each month a photo is picked by Brookbank's finest and the winner shown on our homepage. All you have to do to enter is email your photo to marketing@brookbank.co.uk by the 24th of each month.

If you are lucky enough to win we will send you a £20 gift voucher and if we use your photo also in our new 2011 catalogue we will send you another £20 voucher. Click here for more information and to see one of my uni photos!

Here is September's winner - Pete Shenton

Sweet Rocker, Strutter & Wanderers

2010-10-23T12:26:00.005+01:00

Discounted Sweet Rockers, Strutters & Wanderers going cheap

2011 and beyond

2010-10-13T19:44:00.000+01:00

Some of the Brookbank Managers headed over to the canoe trade show in Germany recently and got shown the new and improved pieces of equipment from canoe related kit manufacturers all over the world.

This is what Pete the manager from Brookbank Carlisle had to say about it.

8 Managers from the Brookbank group headed to Nurnberg for a couple of days ~~holiday~~ hard slog looking at the new products for summer 2011. The show is called the Kanumesse, and is basically turning into the largest trade only show in the world for canoeing and kayaking. this year there were also a lot of the Stand up Paddleboards. There were a few things that came out of it.
Prices will be going up in January. Along with the VAT change to 20%, there has been significant price rises where the goods are being made (China mostly)
Whilst some products are changing, a lot of the kit will be staying the same at least untill the middle of 2011.
All this means the next couple of months will be an excellent time to look at our online store and bag some bargains.

As Normal we flew into Munich from Manchester. the only glitches being an hour delay at the start (enabling our annual quiz with quiz master Mark), plus arriving just after a Russian flight (delays getting through customs). Soon after we were on the unlimited Autobahn with two cars, and only one satnav..... An hour and a half later we arrived at our rather nice budget hotel for late night drinks.

For two and a half days we were at the show from 9am till 6pm talking about and looking at canoeing and kayaking kit from our suppliers Peak, Palm, Perception, Yak, System X, Streamlite, Gatz, Prijon, North Shore, Valley, Big Dog, Old town, Jackson, Fluid, Hobie, Reed, Mad River, Dagger, Tahe, and Typhoon,. Plus a few new Brands (watch this space!)

Gatz Multi Adjustable canoe seats available now. they allow easy release in an emergency

Segway action

Danny from Werner. we all want him working in our shops!
We managed to navigate our way back down the Autobahn without the sat nav and back to the right airport, where I discovered it was safer to drive at 130kph, than 110kph..(its closer to the speed of other cars!). and all safely home in time for a curry....

Shiny new kit

2010-10-13T19:38:00.000+01:00

We got our first 2011 coloured Liquidlogic into the shop yesterday. The Remix and the other Liquidlogic models have got a new colour scheme to celebrate Liquidlogic's 10th birthday.

Here's a quick look over the Liquidlogic Remix 10

The 2011 Remix also has an improved Bad Ass Seating system aswell.

Click here to order yours today

Special Offers on Inflatables

2010-09-25T09:42:00.001+01:00

We have some great offers on Inflatable Canoes at the moment.

To order give us a call on 01926 640573

	WAS	NOW
Sevylor KCC 305 Rio	£299.00	£239.00
Tomcat Solo	£299.00	£249.00
Z-Pro Tango	£359.00	£269.00
Sevylor Pointer K1	£379.99	£299.99
Sevylor Hudson	£399.99	£319.99
Tomcat Tandem	£399.00	£339.00
Sevylor SK100DS	£499.99	£374.99
Z-Pro Flash 1	£459.00	£389.99
Sevylor Pointer K2	£599.99	£449.99
Z-Pro Flash 2	£569.00	£479.99
Sevylor Yukon	£499.99	£399.99
Sevylor SK200DS	£599.00	£449.99

Or Click below to see the great offers on CanoesandKayaks.co.uk

Join our Facebook group for your chance to win paddling freebies

2010-09-01T13:49:00.000+01:00

We have a growing pile of freebies to give away. There will be a couple of competitions on our Facebook page in the very near future so make sure you join to be in with a chance!!

Click below to join now!!

Fluid give their boats a bashing

2010-08-27T15:02:00.000+01:00

Return of the Storm!!

2010-08-27T14:59:00.000+01:00

Now back in stock after a long, long wait!!

Peak Storm Pants

High back fit for seated use. Articulated bum and knees. Fully taped seams. Breathable and durable X3 ripstop nylon fabric with 30m waterproofing, ripstop Cordura knees and bum. Fourway stretch X4 breathable, waterproof and durable fully taped socks with flatlocked seams. Ultra high neoprene waist with elasticated draw cord and shoulder straps. Twin zip pockets.

Sizes: S. M. L. XL. XXL.
Colour: Black.
Uses: Tour. Flatwater. Ocean. Whitewater.

The return of 0% finance

2010-08-14T14:08:00.002+01:00

Drowning doesn't look like drowning

2010-07-24T15:04:00.000+01:00

I have picked this post from a couple of forums and found it very interesting and something that I am sure many people won't have realised.

The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the owners who were swimming between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just standing, neck-deep on the sand bar. “We’re fine, what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. ”Move!” he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not ten feet away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears, “Daddy!” Read More

Extract taken from http://mariovittone.com

Certainly food for thought.

2010-07-20T17:01:00.000+01:00

I was genuinely lucky to get to this kayak fishing event due to various bits either side of the Saturday. The original plan was to leave home at about 3am (eeek!!) and travel down to the bay ready for the 7:30am sign in, this was not to be though as I had one of those Eurodisney (cant sleep I'm too excited) moments when I went to bed. So after an hour of tossing and turning I gave up, loaded the last of the bits in the car and set off.

Yeah - its exactly as my eyes saw it!!!

After a very quiet and leisurely drive down to Oxwich, I attempted to get some kip but as soon as I drifted off I was woken up by the sun rising over the bay - absolutely stunning.

So after that I pretty much gave up trying to get any rest after a grand total of 10 minutes all night. I filled the time until registering by wandering around the beach and headland and generally enjoying the post sunrise chaos of nature.

I registered for the competition and then fully intended to cook some breakfast but with everyone turning up I was soon chatting away and getting my tackle and kit ready for the day ahead.

I was ready for the off! The right hand side of the bay looked very bassy but it wasnt to be, no bass for the bbq ;-(, so I anchored up over a sandy spot about 25m from the rocks and put a couple of lines onto the bottom to see what was about.

The weather on the day wasn't ideal but it was workable. The strong offshore wind coming over the mouth of the bay meant that the bay was flat as it was in the shadow of the wind but this didnt stop the lumpy sea coming through every now and again. This produces several problems in trying to fish as the constant movement of the sea keeps moving the boat up and down not good when trying to keep an eye on the tip for bites.

This didnt stop me pulling up this Red Gurnard on one of the lines I had out.

Just as I was unhooking him my other line went off screaming out line, I hastily returned the gurnard and then started to reel in the other line, this was a fighter!! I was totally out of my depth with this one, and he was a biggy. I was suspecting a dogfish right up until the point that I saw the fish surface and it seemed a bit bigger than a dogfish but the limit of my knowledge had me wondering what it was. Because I had just caught the gurnard there was tackle all over my deck and there was no way I could land this beast onto the deck. I had to take the risky decision of holding the fish on my line in the water while I tried to clear the hooks and tackle off my deck. Heartflutteringly I keot an eye on the fish in the water and luckily managed to clear the junk away quickly.

Back to landing this beast, It was still giving a big fight and had managed to twist line around itself, but luckily then rolled the other way and untangled himself, after a battle I managed to get the fish onto the boat and go about the business of getting a photo so it can count in the competition, it went berserk!!! I was trying to hold it onto the deck and get a photo of it but I wasnt feeling up for it today, after several displays of the strength of the fish I got it photo'd and back in the water still not sure what it was.

Over the rest of the afternoon I moved a couple of times but the fishing died off and the tide went out.

After a fruitless afternoon I trolled a few lures around the rocks in the vain hope of finding another fish but alas no.

Back on the beach I registered my catches and was amazed and inspired to see that the winning number of species was 7 at that point. It took an age to disassemble the kayak and get changed as everyone wanted a look at my fish (Starry Smoothhound) on my camera.

It was soon time for the ceremony and I stood at the back knowing that I wasnt last or first and wouldnt be winning a prize, but I was shocked to find that I had!! Best example of a hound!! I was really made up as I thought I was going home empty handed.

The Yukon arrives

2010-06-23T18:04:00.000+01:00

and the lads took it over the canal for a quick spin so they can write a review on it soon.

Sevylor Yukon is on it's way!!

2010-06-22T16:09:00.002+01:00

The long awaited Yukon from Sevylor is on it's way to us in the very near future.

And to celebrate we will be doing a great offer.

Call us to pre-order one of these great looking boats at an even greater price.

Brookbank London Demo Day

2010-06-08T17:55:00.002+01:00

Brookbank London are pleased to announce our demo day on Saturday 19th June 2010.

This is the ideal opportunity for anyone considering purchasing a canoe or kayak to try several before you buy with a huge choice of model and expert advice on hand.

New to paddlesports? Don't worry we will be running introductory sessions in canoe and kayak.

When - Saturday 19th June 10am to 4pm

Where - Herts Young Mariners Base, 231 Windmill lane, Cheshunt, Herts. EN8 9AJ
(Just 10 minutes from our London store)

We plan to have a selection of the following models available.

Sit on Top kayaks by Ocean kayak, Wilderness Systems, Tek Sport, Hobie, Perception, RTM.

Inflatable canoes by Sevylor, Z Pro, Gumotex
Sea & Touring kayaks by Dagger, Perception,Tahe, North Shore, Wilderness Systems, Valley, Prijon, Trak Folding kayaks

Whitewater kayaks from Big Dog, Eskimo, Dagger, Fluid, Jackson, Liquidlogic, Wavesport
Open Canoes from Clearwater, Gatz, Mad River, Mohawk, Novacraft, Old Town, We No Nah

Stand Up Paddle Boards from Ocean kayak, Red paddle Co., Starboard

To speed up registration on the day please click here to book your place

The Brookbank team

The Ocean Kayak Classic Kayak Fishing Competition 2010

2010-06-08T17:52:00.000+01:00

A report by Keith

This weekend I had the great fortune to be able to attend the Ocean Kayak Classic Kayak Fishing comp in Swanage. It was a superbly organised event that ran smoothly without any major hiccups that I knew of.

Prior to the comp I had formulated a cunning plan, to use light tackle and focus around the couple of piers and catch a variety of mini species, however this plan was scuppered on the day by finding out that the pier and close up to it was out of bounds and the other piers were not possible cause of the tides and tourists on them. Oh well, time for plan B, I had identified from the t'internet that there was several species of fish from a variety of shore based marks. So setting off in the mass start, I went the opposite direction to most of the other competitors who were heading out to several wreck marks. I kept several hundred feet off the beach and anchored up to one of the buoys that was there and I set up my rods and bait and my hooks were in the water. I optimistically tried some feathers first off hoping for mackeral to start the day off, unfortunately this wasnt so, so set up a 2 hook flapper rig baited with ragworm. I stayed on this mark for just over an hour and a half managing several wrasse of which I thought there was 2 species. I then moved a bit further up the beach and anchored to another buoy but here I realised that I had packed my lunch and drinks in the front hatch!!! Oh well I thought, I stuck it out on this mark for another half an hour or so but only picked up wrasse time and time again. I headed into the beach so I could retreive my food and drink, this turned out to take at least another half an hour because so many people on the beach were interested in why there were so many fishing kayaks on the water.
Back on the water I headed out to a mark that i had identified on the 'charts' (not maps ;-)) and begain to drift over it hoping to find something a bit more interesting than the 8 wrasse I had hooked thus far but no, I drifted and drifted but even though I had loads of nibbles I only managed another blimming wrasse!!! Holding out until the last possible moment I was still hopeful of another species that would bring my species total to 3 (or so I thought). Nothing came and nothing came on the feathers on the way back to the beach. Gutted... Well I took my camera to the powers that were to record my species and they confirmed that although I had different patterns on the wrasse they were the same species (I have since found that wrasse develop colours to camoflage themselves to their surroundings).
Oh well, just the one species which left me in last place but was I gutted? nah. any time out on the water is good by me and I got the wooden spoon prize.
It was a fantastic day and the 47 competitors were all totally friendly towards a newbie angler like me. It was great ot finally meet people that I had chatted to on the forum.

Got the bug for kayak fishing? Click here for the kit

It's still not too late to enter

2010-05-28T17:17:00.000+01:00

Johnson Outdoors have just announced that entries will be accepted on the day of the competition up until 9am!!!

Keith's going to be there, if you see him tell him where the fish are!!

From the press release

"There's a chance to win a fantastic new Ocean Kayak Prowler Ultra 4.7 fishing kayak in the OK Classic Fishing Tournament which is sponsored by Johnson Outdoors and supported by AnglersAfloat. The competition is open to all amateur kayak fishermen and takes place at Swanage in Dorset on 5th June. Second prize is a Humminbird 385ci Combo Kayak fishfinder and third prize is a Carlisle Magic Plus Paddle.

It costs £10 to enter the competition and all entry fees will be donated to the Swanage RNLI Lifeboat Station. All competition entrants must be 18 or over and full entry details and the rules are available from the Johnson Outdoors UK website where entrants can also download the necessary competition forms. Although the event is planned to take place on Saturday 5th June, Sunday 6th June is also being held in reserve as a contingency in case of bad weather.

This is a catch and release competition with competitors trying to catch as many different species as possible during an allotted time period on the day of the tournament. They will be fishing for the grand prize of an Ocean Kayak Prowler Ultra 4.7 fishing kayak worth £999.

Designed for serious kayak fishing, the Prowler Ultra 4.7incorporates all the practical features anglers have come to expect from Ocean Kayak plus innovations including a multi-functional reversible hatch cover, a bait tank and also an ice box storage well. The 4.7 metre (15' 5") performance hull offers speed and stability with a deck area laid out to maximize comfort and make this a highly effective fishing craft."

Click here for the Johnson Outdoor website for more information
Click here for the Anglers Afloat website & forum

Stuck for ideas on where to paddle?

2010-05-28T16:42:00.000+01:00

Although some of these guides are quite old the rivers are still there! The BCU West Midlands area have uploaded the guides to the regions rivers onto the BCU website.

I would really recommend exploring some unknown local rivers and cut down on your carbon footprint this summer. The cheese grater on the River Rea is a must do when there has been a bit of rain!!!

Click here to go to the guide

The Doggy Paddle 9th May 2010

2010-05-15T13:35:00.000+01:00

Well, the forecasts got it slightly wrong and the day dawned bright and not too chilly. After a brief stop at the shop to hire out a boat, I arrived at the start car park and saw many familiar faces. It was great to see so many of our customers in one place.
Once it became clear I was going to be the only staff member to be doing the paddle this year, I joined the orderly queue for the shuttle down to the finish in Stratford. This sorted it was onto the water and off downstream. The first section to Warwick castle has only a gentle current and goes through many back gardens and office grounds.

Warwick castle is the only compulsory portage of the event and this was negotiated with ease, just pausing briefly to snap a few photos of the castle and paddlers for the new flyer.

It was quickly back to the paddling and the next weir, even though I was paddling the sit on top I felt confident to run the weir after last years success, unfortunately as I hit the bottom step with the back of the boat which is quite 'v'd I was off balance and swimming with the fish. No hassle though.

Back to the paddling, the river narrows up after Barford and I was able to notch up speeds of 9mph in the current. The rest of the river turns into a bit of a blur as it widens out with high sides meaning the scenery isnt that spectacular apart from Charlecote Park.

The next weir was Hampton Lucy which I successfully negotiated without a dip, not the same story on the Alveston weir though.

I managed to finish in a respectable 3 hours 47 mins which I was pleased with although it isnt a race. But I could have knocked a few minutes off by not chatting so much on the way down.

Hopefully see you there next year?

Keith
Manager

Stay safe in your kayak

2010-05-06T12:25:00.000+01:00

Kayaking is being seen in the news regularly at the moment but for all the wrong reasons. By following a few basic safety guidelines we can make sure that all kayakers are seen as responsible paddlers.

Whether you use your sit on top on beaches in the summer or are a hardened sea kayaker it is great to follow these simple guidelines which are detailed in the RNLI's 'Stay safe in your kayak' publication which can be downloaded by clicking the picture below.

Thanks to all that came to our Come & Try it day

2010-05-06T11:18:00.000+01:00

We would like to thank everyone that attended our come and try it day.

Below are just a few of the 500 photos that were taken.

LAST FEW PLACES ON OUR FREE COME AND TRY IT DAY

2010-05-01T11:15:00.000+01:00

Due to a couple of cancellations we have a very limited number of spaces on our free come and try it day on Monday 3rd May.

To check availability please go to the booking form

Doggy Paddle 9th May 2010

2010-04-28T10:29:00.000+01:00

Just a quick reminder that the Doggy Paddle in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind is on the 9th May.

All of us shop staff will be paddling and hope to see you there.

Free Come & Try It Day 3rd May 2010

2010-03-29T12:50:00.004+01:00

Free Come & Try it Day - 3rd May 2010

If you fancy giving kayaking or canoeing a go before taking the plunge then this is the FREE event for you. On hand will be qualified and experienced instructors to guide you through getting on the water and our experienced shop staff will also be on hand to answer any questions about suitable craft for you.

This event will be held on the Grand Union Canal behind Brookbank Warwickshire's store. Due to the anticipated demand we have split down the day into 6 sessions and we would be grateful if you could indicate which one you would like to attend. In order to register your interest in this event please go to our online form.

Please note due to Child Protection laws every person under 16 yrs old will have to be accompanied on the water by an adult.

If you have any further questions about this event please contact Brookbank Warwickshire on 01926 640 573 or email warwickshire@brookbank.co.uk

This event is run in partnership with Adventure Matters

A trip to Tesco & back

2010-03-27T15:09:00.000Z

Well, I had a rare day off today so thought it must be time to get out for a paddle. There wasn't a rod in sight but there were fish.

After arriving at work (I know it was supposed to be a day off) I set off eventually after trying to select what to paddle, I will be 'ultra' sorted next week, I chose to take a spin on the Manta Ray 12 a boat that I havent really paddled before for any length of time.

The plan was simple - get to the viaduct on the outskirts of Warwick 4km away and back in time for lunch. The boat was really stable but weather cocked a fair bit when the gusty wind came along.

The first bridge and resident swans

Luckily enough there is only 2 sets of locks on this stretch of canal and they are close together. These were quickly upon me so a quick portage around these was in order.

This next stretch is pretty much house and factory lined, I had forgotten how many canal related businesses are along here - narrowboat futon manufacturers included.

Soon enough Tesco was upon me and shortly after the viaduct over the river avon.

It was on this last section that I saw signs that there must be some fairly large fish in here. No Zander's spotted yet though.

It started raining and the skies looked black so it was time to head back with a bit of a following wind to help.

Well the trip blasted out a few cobwebs - 5 miles. Next time must get out with some fishing tackle.

See you on the water

Keith

Paddlesport Courses 2010

2010-03-27T12:36:00.000Z

Brookbank Warwickshire, in partnership with Adventure Matters, is pleased to announce a programme of Paddlesport activities for the summer.

We will be running a series of introductory courses along with improver's courses and even the opportunity to paddle to the historic Warwick castle.

Introductory Courses - Grand Union Canal - £70
24th April
29th May
26th June
24th July
28th August
25 September

Improver's Evening Classes - Grand Union Canal - £80
Course 1
2nd June - 23rd June
Wednesday evenings
Course 2
30th June - 21st July
Wednesday evenings

Guided River Trips - River Avon - Warwick Castle - £70
27th June
25th July
29th August

To book please contact Adventure Matters directly or book online through their website http://www.adventurematters.co.uk

Doggy Paddle 2010

2010-03-27T12:34:00.000Z

Brookbank Warwickshire is pleased to announce that they will be once again supporting Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club's Doggy Paddle in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

This classic Canoe Tour leaves from Edmondscote Park in Leamington Spa before 10am and arriving in Stratford whenever you get there the trip will take you past historic and picturesque views of Warwick Castle and Charlecote Park, finishing opposite the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford whenever you get there. It is approximately 18 miles by Canoe, with three shootable weirs and one compulsory portage.

The aim of the event is to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Anyone raising over £20 for the GDBA we be entered into a draw for an inflatable Canoe donated by Brookbank Canoes.

For more information please go to http://www.doggypaddle.org.uk

New Release!!

2010-03-10T16:53:00.002Z

This Is Canoeing

Follow Justine Curgenven as she captures the magic that is Canoeing.

Watch as she and some of the biggest names in the the canoeing world such as Becky Mason, Paul Mason, Mark Scriver and Karen Knight to name but a few showcase the diversity of this sport.

From Open-Canoe Slalom to a 1,000 mile birchbark expedition. Immerse yourself in locations across the globe, From Canada, The USA, Wales and Scotland.

A must watch for any Canoeing enthusiast.

It's here!!

2010-03-02T09:48:00.001Z

The new catalogue was launched at the Caravan and Boat show last weekend. Order your copy online at here

2010-03-02T09:45:00.000Z

Brookbank Canoes & Kayaking are delighted to announce the launch of the 'Brookbank Master Classes' in association with Canoe & Kayak UK magazine. These key note lectures/presentations will be held at the new Brookbank paddling superstore located in Waltham Abbey, North London. The first five paddlers to sign up to each Class will receive a three month free subscription to Canoe & Kayak magazine.

Please note entry is free to Brookbank Loyalty card holders. Loyalty cards are available to purchase on the night for £4. The loyalty card entitles you to free entry to all Masterclass lectures plus gets you 10% discount in store on clothing and special offer prices on end of line kit. Valid for 12 months.

5th March - Rush Sturges & Tyler Bradt - Film Premier of Dream Result
Both Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradt, legends within the kayaking world, will be present throughout the evening to talk through their experiences whilst making this incredible new edition to the River Roots movie collection.

For more information go to Brookbank London

EyetoEi

2010-03-01T13:47:00.003Z

A charity event where Jon James and Matthew Waldron will canoe from the London Eye to the Eiffel Tower by sea kayak in aid of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Research and in the memory of Sue James. The 450 mile trip, will begin in May 2011 and take around two weeks to complete. Jon and Mat will raise in excess of £50,000 for the Institute of Biomedical Research at the Medical School of the University of Birmingham, to help with their research into the disease.

You, like us, can help support such a worthwhile event, Visit their website http://eyetoei.com/blog/

Keep up to date with their various trips and adventures.

And say HI if you see them on the river.

And DON'T forget please help as much as you can.

The Show Season Is Here!!!!!

2010-02-20T15:58:00.004Z

That's right folks, the National Caravan and Boat show is back at the NEC. As ever Brookbank Canoes will be there with a selection of kit, boats and the some very knowledgeable members of staff.

So why not pop along and say hello. The shop will be open as usual so see something you like at the show then slip down to the shop located 20 minutes away in Warwick. Where members of staff will be only to happy to assist you further.

2010-02-15T09:34:00.000Z

Brookbank are pleased to announce that we are now dealers for Valley Sea Kayaks!!!

Adding this range of boats to our range will offer us the opportunity to provide a more complete range of styles and designs of sea kayak s to what is an expanding area of the paddlesport market.

Check out the range of composite boats here.
Check out the range of polyetheylene kayaks here.

Something exciting for everyone!!!

2010-02-10T09:54:00.000Z

As the new season starts we have some great news to bring you about new brands that we will be stocking here at Brookbank Warwick. New kayaks, canoes and inflatables will be with us shortly.

First off:

Following the closure of Yorkshire Canoes we will now be importing Mohawk canoes. Our first container is due to be with us in late March. If you want any specific models ordering please let us know by February 13th at the latest.

Check out the boats here

Airis Inflatables

These are truly unique inflatables! They will keep their shape through the unique AirWeb construction. You can read more about them on our website www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk or by checking out their brochure here

We have just received the latest Thunder and Magnum models. Information on these firm favourites can be found at http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk/product/452/Magnum_Riot and http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk/product/2866/Thunder_Riot

Don't forget to check out the special offers section on our website for great discounts on older models!!! It is here

We all knew they were vicious!

2010-02-04T08:54:00.002Z

Classic 80's Euro Topo!!

2010-02-01T16:14:00.001Z

A bit of classic Topo action that I was reminded of recently but I dont think health and safety at the Nene would let you get away with it.
For more crazy German 80's antics do a search on youtube for Family Mad!!

New Boats

2010-01-25T17:23:00.002Z

New from LiquidLogic and ready for the spring we will shortly have in store the:

Coupe

Versatility is the name of the game these days when it comes to getting your money’s worth and the Coupe offers it up in large doses. This one-of-a-kind hybrid design is fun, stable, easy to paddle and is as comfortable on rivers and lakes as it is riding your favorite ocean break. The Coupe is the choice when looking for one sit on top that can and will do it all. The Coupes hull is whitewater ready with soft edges for easy control and the bow is upswept allowing the Coupe to ride up and over river features as well as staying high and dry when taken in the surf zone. On quiet waters such as lakes and bays the Coupe transforms to a touring sit-on-top with a flick of the lever deploying its spring loaded skeg; a feature not found on any other sit-on-top kayak. With Al la cart seating to meet your personal needs and preferences, the Coupe offers up unparallel comfort and control.

Deuce Coupe

Double your pleasure, double your fun -- that’s the motto of this tandem sit on top kayak. Like its solo counterpart, the Deuce Coupe is the most versatile tandem sit on top ever produced and the only tandem sit-on-top kayak with a deployable skeg for tracking. With the skeg tucked away, the Deuce Coupe steers effortlessly from the stern and solo seating positions while paddling rivers and back bays, but with the skeg in the down position, the Deuce Coupe tracks straight and true. This versatile sit-on-top is especially family friendly with three seats and plenty of space for additional gear.

Also new instore we have the New Clearwater 156 Open Canoe. An Ideal All rounder for the family or Club user.

Package Deals and invidual prices are available on our website or in store.

Instructor needed for casual work

2010-01-15T16:49:00.001Z

With the economic situation some extra pennies are hard to come by, but we are looking for a Kayak and Canoe Instructor to work on a casual basis. The right candidate will need to be BCU qualified and have previous experience in teaching adult groups.

This year we will be operating a number of trips and courses locally for adult groups, it is anticipated that the successful coach will be require to work 1 weekend and one evening per week on an agreed basis.

Please email keith@brookbank.co.uk with a brief covering letter on experience and qualifications. If you have any questions please call me on 01926 640 573 and ask for the manager.

We want your photos!

2010-01-13T21:36:00.000Z

We are keen to find out what people have been doing during this cold snap, so we would love to see your photos or even videos of your snow boating, ice paddling or in fact anything to do with snow & boats. We will publish the best ones we receive on our blog (credited to you of course).

Snow boat pics

2010-01-11T14:55:00.000Z

Unfortunately due to poor piste conditions Sundays session of snow boating was called off but one of the youngest members of the Brookbank team managed to get out and throw a few 360's.

Snowboat v1 success

2010-01-09T14:08:00.000Z

Well after much planning (about 2 minutes) Keith turned what was a fluid nemesis hull into a sledge. After the first tests today reports are that this boat is awesome! One of the fastest sledges out there on the slopes with the ability to flat spin til your dizzy. Unfortunately technical failures meant no action shots but hopefully a further dump of snow tonight will allow further trials which will be captured on camera.

South West Sea Kayaking

2010-01-08T21:53:00.000Z

One of the blogs that I regularly read is Mark Rainsley's South West Sea Kayaking blog so I thought I would share this with you all!! The photos are nothing but impressive.

We still have 15% off whitewater boats over £499

2010-01-08T08:24:00.000Z

Give us a call on 01926 640 573 to order your new boat for the new year.

Great new safety lights from Navisafe

2010-01-07T17:52:00.000Z

Check them out on the Brookbank website here!

New Tandem Kayak Waterfall World Record

2010-01-06T13:25:00.005Z

Out and about around the shop

2010-01-06T11:14:00.000Z

2010-01-06T09:41:00.000Z

No Snow day for us!!!

But why not take the chance to give us a call and order those new thermals ready for a weekend's snowboating? ;-)

Follow us on the popular Social Networking sites

2010-01-05T22:11:00.002Z

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T09:57:00.002Z

Hi Everyone

We here at Brookbank Warwickshire would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR, and thank you for your valued custom.

This year we hope to continue our mission to provide the best advice, products and service we can, and continue to improve on this throughout the year.

Keep and eye on here and on our Facebook group (Brookbank Warwickshire) for any new products, information on events and shows and photos of what we get up to in the shop.

If you too have photos of trips you have done then please send them in and we would be more than happy to put them on the Facebook Group to share with other paddlers

Once again, Happy New Year

The Guys at Brookbank Warwickshire

2009-12-22T21:12:00.002Z

The Christmas Countdown Has Begun!!

2009-12-19T10:33:00.006Z

So now that Christmas is well and truly on its way we are all running out of time to get those few last minute items for your paddling friends or family.

So here at Brookbank we have come up with a few things that may help fill those stockings.

A Brookbank Gift Voucher

Give us a call and we will be able to give you the unique voucher number that can be used in any of the Brookbank Mega Stores. This way you do not need to worry about post over the festive period.

Thermals

With Christmas comes the cold weather, so why not take the opportunity to get your hands on some thermals. With various style and sizes in Tops, Bottoms and Full Suits. We are confident we can help keep you warm on the water this winter.

Books & DVDs

Set your sights on next year, Get the must have guide books for the UK and abroad. Be inspired by the White Water action DVDs. Relax with some great Open Boating and Sea Kayaking stories in both book and DVD.

NEW Palm Products - IN STOCK NOW!!

2009-12-11T10:43:00.008Z

That's right we have just received delivery of Palm's NEW buoyancy aids and Palm/Merrell Shoes.

The Extrem,

The Amp

The FX

Gradient Shoe

Come into the shop to have a look at these great new products.

Thank you to Keith, The manager of Brookbank Warwickshire for taking time out from paperwork to play model.

Brookbank London - The Set Up!!!

2009-12-05T10:24:00.008Z

Well its here, Today Brookbank London officially OPEN. So we thought we would give you a sneak preview of the guys working hard to prepare for the opening.

You can view the pics here!

And the video here!

Not only carrying a huge range of kayaks, Canoes, Paddles and Clothing. But also an extensive range of sailing equipment and apparel. Topper Sailboats will also be in stock.

So busy times for Brookbank.

We wish the guys in London a successful opening.

NEW Dagger Alchemy now in stock!!!!

2009-11-30T15:19:00.003Z

The Alchemy pushes the boundaries of performance at both ends of the spectrum, with best-in-class capabilities for day trips and usability for overnight and camping trips. Best of all, the Alchemy is suitable for a wide range of paddler abilities.

Stable multi-chine hull with steep rocker for increased manoeuvrability
Rounded deck and raised bow design eliminates wash and breaks through waves
Low stern deck reduces windage
Drop-down skeg to aid directional stability and tracking
3 hatch design for accessible storage
Dual density hatches for a secure dry seal
Mini-cell foam sealed bulkheads
Retractable bow grab handle with Soft Touch handles
Fore and aft deck elastics with bow deck wet storage system
Adjustable padded seat with leg lifter support
Thigh brace mounted adjustable backrest
Precision adjustable padded thigh braces
White water style ergonomic back rest anodised Security Bar

Brookbank Loyalty Card

2009-11-19T09:39:00.004Z

Save money with your Brookbank Loyalty Card.

For only £4 a year you can purchase a loyalty card and receive discounts on boats and kit. It also enables you to take advantage of any special offer prices and package deals that are available both in store and online.

Come in and get yours today and start saving.

Christmas is nearly upon us!!

2009-11-18T13:42:00.003Z

With Christmas well on the way we thought we would let you all know our opening times over the festive period and new year.

Mon 21st Dec - Open as usual
Tues 22nd Dec - Open as usual
Weds 23rd Dec - Open as usual
Thurs 24th - CLOSED
Friday 25th - CLOSED
Saturday 26th - CLOSED
Sunday 27th - CLOSED
Monday 28th - Open 9.30am to 5pm
Tuesday 29th - Open 9.30am to 5pm
Wednesday 30th - Open 9.30am to 5pm
Thursday 31st - CLOSED
Friday 1st Jan - CLOSED
Saturday 2nd - Open as usual

So now you know when WE will be in, why not pop in yourself and say hello. Remember we do gift vouchers. Ideal Christmas present for those paddlers you don't know what to get.

Brookbank Expands Once Again

2009-11-18T13:40:00.005Z

Recently Brookbank has expanded itself to include two new shops, Brookbank Ireland & Brookbank London.

Brookbank Ireland

The winter of 2009 has seen Brookbank expand into Northern Ireland with our retail partner, North South Marine. Based near Enniskillen, North South Marine will be stocking a selection of our products in their store and all other products are available to order.

Whilst this is a different set up to our main outlets we plan to be able to expand this range when NSM move premises over the winter period.

Brookbank are pleased to be working with our retail partner North South Marine. From late August 2009 a selection of our open canoes, sit on tops and touring kayaks will be available from stock at North South Marine. Later in 2009 NSM will be moving to larger premises where we will be able to offer an wider range of products. All Brookbank products are available to order through North South Marine.

Current Address
North South Marine & Leisure
Maguiresbridge Road,
Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh
Northern Ireland, BT92 OPE
Tel: Tel: +44 (0) 28 6772 1720

Please note moving premises from early November to:
North South Marine & Leisure
Farransculloge
Lisnaskea
Co Fermanagh
N Ireland, BT92 0AW

Brookbank London

Brookbank are delighted to announce the opening of a brand new superstore for canoeing and kayaking in the London area.

Located just 5 minutes off the M25 J25 & J26 in Waltham Abbey, the store is located only 300 metres from the site of the new Olympic White Water course, currently under construction. The River Leaalso flows past our front door offering miles of easy touring water.

9,000 square feet packed full of all the leading brands of canoe and kayak equipment, the new store will also be our flagship store for Brookbank sailing.

Official opening event Saturday 5th December
Special Offers and Discounts
Refreshments
Suppliers on hand to offer expert advice from the horse's mouth

Guest speaker TBC
Guest speaker from Sailing Jim Saltonstall
9.30am to 5.30pm

Brookbank London
Bowman House
Lea Road
Waltham Abbey
Essex
EN9 1AH

Tel 01992 711611
london@brookbankcanoes.co.uk

Student Evening

2009-10-05T10:12:00.000+01:00

What: Brookbank Warwick Student Evening
When: Thursday 15th October 2009 6pm - 9pm
Where: Brookbank Warwick, Budbrooke Ind Est, Warwick CV34 5XH

Once again we will be holding our annual student evening, with the usual great discounts of up to 50% off RRP's. We will also be showing paddling DVD's on our big screen (wall).

This will be a great opportunity to show your freshers a massive range of kit at great prices.

So why not fill a car and come to the Midlands' largest canoe & kayak store!!

Great Offers to Kick start the paddling season

2009-10-03T10:13:00.007+01:00

Unfortunately we cant guarantee the rain but we are doing our best to make sure you have all of the best kit to make the most of what rain we do get.

Nookie Assasin Suit Launched and in store NOW!

2009-09-04T11:19:00.002+01:00

Nookie launched their brand new and innovative dry suit just a few days ago.

Nookie says:
"The long awaited Nookie Assassin Drysuit uses an incredible natural fabric technology to combine durability and strength with the comfort and flexibility you'd expect from a Savile Row suit."

Fabrics: 3ply Bamboo with Enduro mesh and Gaiaprene®

Neck: Latex gasket with O-ring Gaiaprene® outer
Wrist: Latex gasket with O-ring Gaiaprene® outer
Ankle: Enduro mesh reinforced with hook & loop adjustability
Back Zip: Waterproof BDM® brass zip with protection cover
Waist system: Deep tunnel with spraydeck grab clips and dual drawcord and hook and loop power ups
Relief Zip: Waterproof BDM® brass zip with protection cover
Socks: Fabric dry socks
Made in Cornwall, UK

Having tried on the suit it is a great fit and is not at all like those other suits that have lots of baggy material to make it fit.

2009-09-02T13:43:00.001+01:00

Some great new additions into our stock

2009-09-01T10:38:00.004+01:00

Finally we now have Big Dog Kayaks in stock! After a bit of a wait we now have what will be the key models in stock. We also have demo boats available!

For more information on all the Big Dog models click here

Brookbank Warwickshire on Facebook

2009-09-01T10:32:00.001+01:00

Why not join our group on Facebook?

We will be posting special offers and new product information on the site.

Click here to go straight to the group

Great New Kit

2009-06-05T16:23:00.012+01:00

Well, things were warming up and new kit is slowly coming in to the country. There have been not quite so many new bits of kit coming through this year but what has come through has been great.

So to kick off we have the Cirrus shell gear from Delta (Nookie) shown above. A great jacket and trousers combo for those that tour, open boat, or even use their sit on top. They are made from a highly breathable fabric that is waterproof and fully taped with no four-way cross seams.

I think I might be getting a set of these!

Next up we have the Sweet Wanderer, which is a replacement for the ever so popular Rocker half cut. The quirky duck bill will keep the rain out of your eyes and the minimal size of the peak means that the risk of getting it caught on river furniture is reduced.

The Palm Helix Buoyancy Aid

The Liquidlogic Biscuit - tasty

Late night opening at Brookbank Warwickshire

2009-05-02T13:00:00.001+01:00

Hi All,

Now we are settled in to the new place we will be opening on Wednesday evenings until 8pm.

See you on the water,

Keith

Tahe Sea Kayaks - confirmed this weekend

2009-03-18T10:35:00.001Z

We have confirmed the following demos are going to be with us for this weekend.

Reval
Reval Mini
Seaspirit
Gulfspirit
Reval Duo

Ok the canal isn't the best place but why not take advantage of the range being here and then book them for an off-site demo.

Keith

Tahe Sea Kayaks Demo

2009-03-10T11:00:00.004Z

On 21st March 2009, as part of our Pirate day we have arranged for a selection of Tahe Demo boats to be with us.

We know the canal may not be the best place to demo them but why not whittle down your selection and then arrange with us for an off site demo.

Doing something funny for money

2009-03-07T11:58:00.003Z

We will be doing our bit for Comic Relief this year by holding a pirate day!! On Saturday 21st March you could get yourself some pirate treasure by coming in fancy dress or you could take part in the water-based treasure hunt on the local canal.

We will be confirming more fun soon but in the meantime keep checking back regualarly.

Keith

New catalogue out now

2009-02-18T12:09:00.001Z

Tahe Sea Kayaks

2009-02-18T12:03:00.003Z

We now have our full range of tahe demo boats available to hire and try out. Made in Estonia, and known mainly in Scandinavia the build quality is excellent, and the price is, lets just say affordable!!

The primary ranges we will be bringing in (and have on demo) are the seaspirit/gulf spririt/bay spirit, the Reval range, and a couple of doubles - the reval, and argo.

The Spirits are an exellent range of boats for the intermediate, with the gulf and bay being a more rounded hull, and the sea having move of an edge - pick your preference

The Revals have quite a bit of rocker enabling a more advanced more playful ride

We have brought the doubles in as we were increasingly being asked for this type of boat, they will prove popular for distance travelling

We also have the Greenland boat in - great for traditional paddling - low volume, hard chines

All moved in and ready to go

2009-02-05T14:00:00.001Z

Well, after a couple of months in the planning it has all finally happened. We are in the new unit and it's slowly taking shape. The amount of space that we have will allow us to display everything in one building, whereas when we were in the old shop we had boats stored in outbuildings and on trailers.

One area that is creating a lot of interest is the Sailing zone, which at the moment is being developed but, over the coming months it will develop into a great new venture with sailing areas also being rolled out across our other stores. Why not check out www.brookbanksailing.co.uk to check out the great sailing range we can offer.

A bit of new product news as well,

Tahe sea kayaks - we are now importing these great, well made quality kayaks and have demo boats of the most popular models.

Artisitic - We are now holding stock of Artisitic drysuits

Gaia - Great new airbags coming soon.

We have a new home!

2009-01-16T08:58:00.004Z

Well, you may have heard about it on the old grapevine but it's true we are moving to a new home!

The move, which is part of Brookbank's programme of growth and development, will allow us to stock the largest range of canoes, kayaks and accessories in Central & Southern England giving easy access to an even wider audience.

The new 5,000 sq ft premises are conveniently located off the central motorway network (M6,M40 )along with convenient public transport nearby.

The new shop will be open from 2^nd February.

Keep up to date with the latest developments by joining our facebook group (Brookbank Warwickshire) or checking out our blog http://brookbankwarwickshire.blogspot.com – check out the photos of the new unit.

Our opening hours will still be 9:30 until 5:30 Monday to Saturday and our phone number will still be 01926 640 573.

Give us a call if you have any questions.

Keith & the team

Our new address will be:

Brookbank Warwickshire
Unit 7, Budbrooke Industrial Estate
Budbrooke Road
Warwick
CV34 5XH

View Larger Map

Meet the staff 2

2009-01-14T17:21:00.003Z

Cliff joined Brookbank Warwickshire in early 2007 in response to our increasing growth and expansion. He comes to us from a Scouting background, and has been involved in a wide range of outdoor pursuits, from canoeing and kayaking, to sailing, climbing, hiking and anything else the Scouts get up to.

Locations paddled: UK

Favourite paddling location: Water

Favourite boat:The smallest I can fit in

Least favourite thing about paddling: Getting wet

Meet the staff 1

2009-01-11T20:44:00.005Z

Well first off is me...

I'm Keith and have been the manager at BBW since August 2008, I have come from mainly an outdoor background that has taken me all over the country and also some locations abroad in the 20 or so years I have been paddling.

I paddle both canoe & kayak and love the transfer of skills from one craft to another.

Locations paddled: UK, America, Alaska

Favourite paddling location: Ocoee

Favourite boat: One that floats

Least favourite thing about paddling: UK Weather

How it all works

2008-09-24T16:57:00.006+01:00

Well the various sale items are going like hot cakes on a cold morning on the banks of the Dee!

Check out www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk before they all go.

Well, I thought I might let you know how being part of a bigger group works. As many of you will know our shop is fairly small at the moment and we can only hold limited stock in the shop so, we have two cunning ways of getting hold of more stock really quickly. Firstly we have storage unit which holds upto 80 boats- do you reckon you could find the one for you in there? Secondly we have great system that allows us to access stock in other shops and then we get that on our weekly delivery. The size of this delivery varies on the amount of transfers from other branches.

The yard just after a delivery
Our Stockport showroom

And thirdly, I know I didnt say it earlier but we also get stock direct from manufacturer.

SALE, SALE, SALE!!

2008-09-17T23:01:00.004+01:00

Whilst you are on your PC why not check out our sale items on Brookbank's website?

These end of line items are selling out fast and to ensure that you dont miss out on the great offers why delay?

Next post: How it all works.....

Welcome

2008-08-22T23:04:00.001+01:00

Well, welcome to the first Brookbank Warwickshire blog. What's going to be here?

Be the first to hear about new and exciting products coming into the store,
Meet the staff
Read product reviews
Be among the first to hear about special offers and events
and much more!

So why not take a quick browse through our blog, browse our online store at http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk and pop down and see us. See www.paddlesport.co.uk for details on how to find us.

Keith and the team at Brookbank Warwickshire

twitter

2007-01-04T12:06:00.004Z

How to find us

2001-02-17T20:33:00.005Z

View Larger Map

From M40 J15

Leave J15 and take the A46 towards Coventry. Leave the A46 at the 1st exit and take slip road up to roundabout. Turn Right (3rd exit) towards Warwick Town Centre, along Birmingham Road. At the roundabout take 3rd exit (doubling back on yourself) back along Birmingham Road. Then take first left onto Budbrooke Road and cross over Grand Union Canal. Follow road round to the right into the Industrial estate. Follow the road to the end. We are located on your right.

From M6 & Coventry

Exit M6 Junction 2 and take A46 towards Warwick. Continue for 15 miles to exit sign-posted A425/A4177. Turn left (1st exit) onto Birmingham Road and continue to roundabout. Take 3rd exit (doubling back on yourself) back along Birmingham Road. Then take first left into Budbrooke road and cross over Grand Union Canal and follow road round to the right into the industrial estate. Follow the road to the end. We are located on your right.

About us

2001-02-17T20:25:00.003Z

We are the largest paddlesport outlet in the Midlands! Our 5,000 sq foot building, located in Warwick, is fully stocked with a wide range of equipment from suppliers like Perception, Dagger, Fluid, Mad River, Wilderness Systems, Nookie, Yak, Palm and many more. We are fortunate enough to have access to the Grand Union Canal where there is a 12 mile return trip with only 1 lock, we also use this for demoing new boats.

We have also started to stock some sailing gear from manufacturers such as Henri Lloyd, Gill and Gull.

Our expert team is always on hand to help with enquiries and to ensure you make the right purchase for your needs.

So why not pop in and have a look and a chat.

Customer Feedback

2001-02-17T18:32:00.003Z

Here at Brookbank Warwickshire we like to have feedback from YOU the customer, Please email any messages or reveiws to us here at the shop and we will put them on the blog for all to see.

warwickshire@brookbankcanoes.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

A customer from Norway. Click here to read his story.

A review from a happy customer!! - Amazingly good service, a friendly and helpful staff with good knowledge to what they are selling! I bought my Jackson Superstar 2010 in october 2009... I was quite happy to leave my money at this shop :-) They really helped me to find the right kayak! Best reguards from a Norwegian kayaker‎

Events we will be attending

2001-02-17T16:42:00.005Z

Brookbank Canoes will be attending;

The Outdoors Show, 26th - 28th March 2010

The Outdoors Show is perfect for anyone who is interested in the outdoors. With a selection of outdoor clothing companies and retailers you are sure to be able to grab a bargain.

Brookbank Canoes will have a stand full of boats and some kit for you to have a look at, maybe take a look at any special offer show prices we may have available.

The Doggy Paddle - 9th May 2010

Once again Brookbank will be supporting the Doggy Paddle in aid of Guide Dogs For The Blind, This 19 mile trip takes you along the rivers Leam and Avon. Through the beautiful grounds of Warwick Castle and Charlcote Park (both of which you cannot normally paddle through). You paddle down the Avon straight into the centre of Stratford where there is normally a crowd turned out to welcome and congratulate you.

This is a sponsored event and any donations and sponsorship would be very much appreciated.

Brookbank Canoes will be hiring out its demo fleets of boats for a minimal charge. Please ring the shop for details, terms and conditions apply.

Usefull Links

2001-02-17T14:07:00.010Z

Meet the staff

2001-02-17T12:45:00.010Z

Keith Wraight - Manager

Keith has been with the shop since August 2008. He likes all aspects of paddling but his passion is open boating & kayak fishing.

Keith's other interests include camping with the family and BBQ's.

Cliff Fairbairn - Sales

Cliff has worked for Brookbank since January 2007. He enjoys getting out in almost any boat when he can.

Cliff's other hobbies include walking and messing around in boats and water.

Mike Dillworth - Sales

Mike, An enthusiastic new member to the Brookbank Warwick team. Coming from a kayak retail back round he brings with him a wealth of knowledge in canoeing and kayaking.

Mike also likes camping and climbing.