The polo ‘pitch’ design means that staff, referees and spectators can stand on the highly stable floating platform the whole way around the four areas and can walk across the middle in both directions and on and off it to the shore. The canoes themselves can enter into each pitch under modular bridges constructed in the same way, equipped with safety rails.

Henry Bagnall of VersaDock came up with the design to put the four pitches inside one main perimeter so that each could share a wall for cost effectiveness. “VersaDock have used their ‘double low float’, double width float for extra stability, and low so that canoeists can easily reach onto the platforms,” he explains. “We have neatly fitted the whole area into one of the water spaces in the lake system at Holme Pierrepont Country Park, the home of National Watersports.”

The platform system is two metres wide all round providing a comfortable safety margin for users. It is secured to the shore using strong connecting bars. The floating platform is being installed by a team from VersaDock and will be ready for use by the middle of August.

“This has been a great opportunity for VersaDock to show our capabilities,” adds Henry, “and we are very proud that the platform will be a centrepiece for canoeists in this renowned watersports park.”