Risk Assessment

The risk assessment process for Scottish Canoe Association (SCA) Slalom Coaching, Training & Competitions has three components:

1. The generic risk assessment, the control measures for which are largely dealt with by following the SCA control measures;
2. A site specific risk assessment will be completed for each location used by the coach in charge of training, coaching or competition;
3. The dynamic risk assessment which is on-going throughout the training, coaching or competition and is monitoring such variable hazards as changing weather, water levels, ability and morale of the group, etc.  This third element of the risk assessment is not documented, but is as important as the first two, and is undertaken primarily by the coach in charge, and also by all other leaders and assistants.

Site Specific Risk Assessments
Site specific risk assessments are available to download for Alva, Fairnilee, Grandtully, Seaton Park and Forth (Union Canal)

Dynamic Risk Assessment

Dynamic risk assessment undertaken by the coach on a particular session is a critical part of SCA Slalom risk management. This process begins with the coach in charge of a session walking the section to visually check for hazards and continues throughout the session. The British Canoe Union mnemonic CLAP is a very helpful framework for conducting dynamic risk assessments.

• C - Communication. Is there a system in place for frequent communication with the people I am responsible for? If people are out of range of my voice how do I communicate with them (whistle, use of signals etc)
• L - Line of Sight. Can I see all the people I am responsible for? If they go out of sight what arrangements have I made to ensure they are being looked after (eg move an assisting parent to visually watch that section)
• A - Avoid the problem. Have I create a scenario where those on the water are naturally moving away from potential hazards?
• P - Position of maximum usefulness. Where am I positioned in relation to those I am responsible for and the identified Site Specific hazards? What order are those on the water paddling a set course? Are the more experienced paddlers in a position to be able to assist those requiring assistance?

Kayak Club, Seaton Park Slalom Site, Seaton Park, Aberdeen. Flat, moving water training/introductory competition site on the River Don, available all year round during daylight hours. Club meets Thursdays 6pm - 8pm from April - September. Div 4 Slalom in May. Contact Dave Kay 01224 321790 or davidak@btinternet.com

The slalom course is in a large city park, less than 10 minutes from the centre of Aberdeen. It is on the River Don. The start of the course is a large pool above an old weir, and it then follows the channel down the near side of the island behind the weir. It offers fairly flat moving water with a few interesting eddies and flow patterns - ideal water for beginners, yet still interesting for Division 3 and a good training base for higher division paddlers.

This was one of the earliest permanent slalom training courses in the UK, established by University paddlers during the 1970s. It has been home to an annual introductory (Novice/Div 4) ranked slalom since 1978. Seaton was the home training centre for the Scottish Slalom squads of the late 1970s, prior to the acquisition of Grandtully.

The park is an oasis for wildlife, with formal gardens, open parkland, a football training area used by amateurs and for summer football festivals and an attractive children’s play area. A large public car park is situated next to the play area, with controlled access for unloading by the slalom site. Public toilets are adjacent, but there is no camping and caravanning permitted in the park, although there are a number of sites near Aberdeen. Recent work by the City Council has provided wheelchair access to the course.

Enter Seaton Park from Don Street, off King Street. If travelling from the North this a right turn at the second traffic lights after crossing the Bridge of Don. From the South it is a left turn at the first traffic lights after the roundabout at the junction of King Street & St Machars Drive (by the University). After about 200 metres there is the public car park to the left and a barrier, which on competition days will be unlocked for access.

Situated on the River Tweed, Fairnilee is a stretch of grade 2 rapids suitable for division 2, 3 & 4 events.  The course varies greatly with water level, from a scrape in summer to a washed out wave train after spring or autumn rain, but it does provide challenges at all levels.  In terms of difficulty, the course sits midway between Alva and Grandtully, so is a good place for the improving paddler to try out their white water skills before moving on to harder courses.
The course normally begins above the bridge, where the river is wide and shallow, testing paddlers' current crossing skills.  The water then channels mainly through the left-most bridge arch, with a small eddy just below the bridge on river left often holding a gate.  The river flattens out slightly before reaching the 'horseshoe drop' which is the most technically difficult part of the course (pictured).  At low levels, the normal route is to the left of the central rock, although it is possible to find a route down the right.  At high water this washes out into a large V-shaped wave.  This part of the course is directly in front of the car park, so expect plenty of onlookers. Another wide section follows, before the river finally narrows again into the aptly named 'bottom rapid' which has a remarkably quick jet of water between several sharp eddies, causing eddy lines which have been known to trip up paddlers very close to the finish line!
In May Fairnilee hosts the River Tweed festival, which involves a 2.5 mile river race, followed by a mini slalom on the flat pool above the main slalom site, and a sprint race down the rapids.
To get to Fairnilee, follow the A707 between Selkirk and Peebles.  The course is situated at the Yair bridge crossing the Tweed, 4 miles outside Selkirk.