Editing River Great Ouse (section)

==Water sports==
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In 1944 the annual [[The Boat Race|Boat Race]] between the [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] universities took place on this river, between [[Littleport, Cambridgeshire|Littleport]] and Queen Adelaide, the first time that it had not been held on the [[River Thames|Thames]]; it was won by Oxford.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/out_about/2004/02/historic_boat_race.shtml |title=Celebrate the 1944 University Boat Race! |publisher=BBC |date=February 2004 |access-date=25 December 2019 |archive-date=29 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129095703/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/out_about/2004/02/historic_boat_race.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[The Boat Race 2021|The 2021 Boat Race ]] was again held on the river because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-26 |title=The Boat Race 2021 to be raced at Ely, Cambridgeshire |url=https://www.theboatrace.org/news/the-boat-race-2021-to-be-raced-at-ely-cambridgeshire |access-date=2020-11-26 |website=The Boat Race |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121075536/https://www.theboatrace.org/news/the-boat-race-2021-to-be-raced-at-ely-cambridgeshire |url-status=live }}</ref> The Great Ouse has been used by three clubs from Cambridge University for the training of rowers, with the  [[Cambridge University Boat Club|Boat Club (CUBC)]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cubc.org.uk/rowing/facilities.html |title=CUBC: ''Facilities'' |access-date=22 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926173304/http://www.cubc.org.uk/rowing/facilities.html |archive-date=26 September 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> the [[Cambridge University Women's Boat Club|Women's Boat Club (CUWBC)]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cuwbc.org/training/cuwbc-facilities |title=CUWBC: ''Facilities'' |access-date=22 October 2010 |archive-date=13 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113180504/http://www.cuwbc.org/training/cuwbc-facilities |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club|Lightweight Rowing Club (CULRC)]], all using facilities at Ely; the clubs merged in 2020. 

The Great Ouse is a very popular river for [[canoeing]] and [[kayaking]], particularly around Bedford which is a regional centre for the sport.{{cn|date=November 2020}} Viking Kayak Club organise the Bedford Kayak Marathon with [[canoe racing]] held along the Embankment on Bedford's riverside and dates back to the original Bedford to St Neots race in 1952, believed{{by whom|date=November 2020}} to be the first of its kind in the country.{{cn|date=November 2020}}

[[File:FloatingCurraghBedford.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.0|Reconstruction of a first-century currach on the Great Ouse.]]
Bedford also benefits from the presence of weirs and sluices, creating white water opportunities. Viking organise national ranking [[Canoe Slalom]] events at the [[Cardington Artificial Slalom Course]] (CASC), which was the first artificial whitewater course in the UK,{{cn|date=November 2020}} opened in 1982 adjacent to [[Cardington, Bedfordshire|Cardington]] Lock, in a partnership with the Environment Agency who use it as a flood relief channel.{{cn|date=November 2020}} CASC is also the venue each year for the UK's National Inter Clubs Slalom Finals, the largest canoe slalom event by participation in the UK.

Since 1978, the Bedford River Festival has been held every two years, to celebrate the link between Bedford and the coast.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitshefford.co.uk/afield/bedfordembankment.shtm |title=Visit Shefford, Bedford Embankment |access-date=1 November 2010 |archive-date=3 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603224515/http://www.visitshefford.co.uk/afield/bedfordembankment.shtm |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to craft often seen on the river, the 2008 festival featured a reconstruction of a 1st-century [[currach]], consisting of a wicker framework covered in cow hide, and capable of carrying ten people.