Editing Severn bore (section)

== Transport and surfing ==
The River Severn is considered a navigable river and Gloucester used to be an important port, with shipping having to deal with the bore. Vessels can ride the tide up from Sharpness to Gloucester. The tide will outstrip the vessel but by timing the journey correctly, a barge can reach Gloucester at high water. Descending is more difficult, and barges often needed to start their descent with one tide, lay up before crossing Longney Sands, and finish the descent at the next tide. These inconveniences in accessing Gloucester were overcome when the [[Gloucester and Sharpness Canal]] was opened in 1827, bypassing the need for shipping to use the river to reach Gloucester.<ref>{{cite book |author=Charles Hadfield |title=The Canals of South and South East England |year=1969 |publisher=David and Charles |isbn=0-7153-4693-8 |page=348}}</ref>

[[File:Surfers riding the Severn Bore - geograph.org.uk - 369764.jpg|thumb|left|Surfers riding the Severn bore]]
[[River surfing]] enthusiasts attempt to surf along on the wave, which can be {{convert|7|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} high.<ref name=Witts>{{cite book|author=Witts, Chris |title=The Severn Bore: An Illustrated Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NGOoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT7 |year=2013 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-4456-1102-0 |pages=7–9}}</ref> The river was first surfed in 1955 by [[World War II]] veteran [[Jack Churchill]], a [[Military Cross]] recipient renowned both for carrying a [[Scottish broadsword]], and for being the only Allied soldier to kill an enemy with a longbow during the war. He became a surfing enthusiast in his later life and rode the bore on a board he designed himself.<ref name=pretor-pinney/><ref>{{cite web | author=Smith, Robert Barr | url=http://www.wwiihistorymagazine.com/2005/july/col-profiles.html | title=Fighting Jack Churchill Survived A Wartime Odyssey Beyond Compare | date=July 2005 | access-date=27 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917135443/http://www.wwiihistorymagazine.com/2005/july/col-profiles.html | archive-date=17 September 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2005, several hundred surfers gathered in [[Newnham on Severn]] to celebrate 50 years since the first recorded attempt at surfing the Severn bore and to view the première of ''Longwave'' by Donny Wright, a historical film documenting the evolution of the sport since its inception in 1955.<ref name="Rowbotham, Severn Bore"/> In March 2006, Steve King, a railway engineer from [[Gloucestershire]], set a world record for the longest surfing ride on a river bore while riding the Severn bore; King surfed up the river for a distance of {{convert|7.6|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}, a [[Guinness World Record]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Surfing |url=https://www.severn-bore.co.uk/surfing.html |publisher=Severn Bore |access-date=16 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126131350/https://www.severn-bore.co.uk/surfing.html |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-best-guinness-world-records-in-surfing |title=The best Guinness World Records in surfing |publisher=Surfer Today |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127213019/https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-best-guinness-world-records-in-surfing |archive-date=27 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On days when a large bore is expected, hundreds of surfing enthusiasts may accumulate, waiting for the waves to arrive. Hazards in high water conditions can include floating trees, collapsing portions of river bank, overhanging branches and even dead farm animals.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://encyclopediaofsurfing.com/entries/severn-bore |title=Severn Bore |author=Rich, Alan |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Surfing |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911025435/http://encyclopediaofsurfing.com/entries/severn-bore |archive-date=11 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Gloucester Harbour Trustees]], as competent harbour authority for this part of the river, have issued safety guidance for surfers, canoeists, small craft and river bank users in relation to the bore.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/pdf/boresurfing.pdf |title=Severn Bore guidance |publisher=Gloucester Harbour Trustees |access-date=27 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000146/http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/pdf/boresurfing.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

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