A group of advanced kayakers at Monmouth School for Boys experienced Alpine-like conditions on the Tees and Tyne rivers during the half-term break.

Staying in Alston in the Upper Pennines, the school’s canoe club members enjoyed four days of peat orange ‘white’ water, leading each other safely down some difficult sections of both rivers under the watchful eyes of Dr James Harrison and coaching guru Sean Taylor.

Harnessing the power of the water, the boys showed high levels of skill in surfing waves and skirting stoppers with the younger students, Ben (Year 10), Oliver and George (Year 11) in particular, trying more challenging tricks as their confidence rose.