Month: October 2025

GB-ONE Coaching Conference 2025 @ Wey Kayak Club

   28 October 2025    Athlete Development, Coaching

Please see below information on the 2025 GB-ONE Coaching Conference, organised and delivered by Scott Hynds, PaddleUK Flatwater Coach Developer. The MRC supports the core aims and delivery of this conference and encourages all clubs to engage with it to continue to strengthen flatwater racing in the UK.

This November, we will be delivering a coaching conference at Wey Kayak Club. The conference will be taking place on Saturday 22nd November from 12:00 noon – 17:00pm. 

We’re inviting coaches to join our interactive workshops designed to build shared understanding, spark great conversations, and create a more consistent approach to coaching across the UK.

🕐 Session 1 (12:30–14:30)
Focus: The fundamentals of effective paddling technique.
Two tailored sessions:

  • Performance Juniors – led by Hannah Brown
  • Developing Juniors – led by Scott Hynds & James Train
    Both groups will come together to share insights and experiences.

🕒 Session 2 (15:00–16:30)
Focus: Coaching practice and behaviours—exploring what great coaches do.
We’ll dive into communication, feedback, goal setting, and interpersonal skills to strengthen how we stretch and support our athletes.

Please CLICK HERE to sign up and attend the day. 

Join us to connect, learn, and help shape a consistent, collaborative coaching approach across the UK. Attendees will receive 10 CPD points.

Racing Behaviour & Language at Marathon Events

   20 October 2025    Racing, Rules, Safeguarding

Please see below statement for Stan Missen, Chair of the Marathon Racing Committee:

Not for the first time the Marathon Racing Committee have had to investigate some totally unacceptable language and questionable racing behaviour at a Hasler event. The latest incident involved unacceptable language, which was directed without any regard to those competing or those supporting. It was also likely that members of the public could have heard the exchange. 

We must remind ALL paddlers that PaddleUK and the Marathon Racing Committee expect a high degree of sportsmanlike behaviour at all levels of event. Proven examples of unacceptable language or poor behaviour will be followed up and PaddleUK disciplinary action could be the result. The MRC will again look at the powers conferred by the rules, upon all race organisers, to deduct points or disqualify, in cases proven. 

National Schools Canoe Championships 2025 – Entries now open!

   15 October 2025    Athlete Development, National, Racing, Schools Racing

Entries for the 2025 National Schools Canoe Championships are now open via the marathon racing entries system here.

The National Schools Canoe Championships are jointly organised by the Devizes to Westminster (DW) Race Organisation and the Paddle UK Marathon Racing Committee to promote schools canoeing in the UK by providing an event specifically for inter-school competition. Particularly, the MRC and DW Organisation want to promote schools having an active involvement in getting students on the water and in boats.

It provides the opportunity for racing against paddlers from other school teams, particularly for crews preparing for the DW season, both returning 2025 crews and new crews making preparations for 2026.

For full information and full detail on the criteria for entries, please visit the entries page here.

Any queries should go directly to the race organisers:

  • Gareth Scragg – Junior Teams Liaison, Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race
  • Holly Mobbs – MRC Junior Development Lead

MRC Statement re Hasler Finals Double Promotions Queries

   12 October 2025    National, Racing

The Marathon Racing Committee would like to thank Worcester Canoe Club for another exceptionally run major national event last week. It was brilliant to see so many clubs and their members engaging with marathon racing from Geoff Sanders categories all the way to Division 1. It truly demonstrated that marathon racing is for everyone; no matter the age, ability or experience.

We would also like to congratulate Elmbridge Canoe Club for retaining the Hasler Series trophy. Will any club be able to challenge their current dominance in 2026?

Following a review by the ranking officer, several additional promotions have been made, including adjustments made on the day. The on-the-day results and points announced on the day will stand.

British Development Juniors take on the River Seine at the 2025 French National Championships

   8 October 2025    Athlete Development, International, Racing

British development juniors returned from Vernon last week with several podiums and valuable lessons. Racing on the fast, busy River Seine forced them to adapt due to strong currents, large river traffic and tricky portages. The whole experience sharpened their racing, boosted confidence and created valuable lessons for them to take into a winter of training at their local clubs.

The 2025 French National Canoe Marathon Championships were held on the wide, fast-flowing River Seine in Vernon, where heavy river traffic and a noticeable downstream current challenged the juniors. Athletes quickly learned that the usual pontoon side was difficult to launch from and that using the opposite side or running to the end of the pontoon often produced better, faster exits at portages.

Saturday began with the K2 races. In the U14 girls’ K2, Ruth Shephard (Reading Canoe Club) and Ariana Manley (Wey Kayak Club) produced a strong start, then settled into a comfortable lead that they maintained to take the win. Finn Meredith (Elmbridge Canoe Club) and Edward Stroud (Wey Kayak Club) faced a highly competitive U14 K2 field and finished fourth. In the U16 K2 races Imogen Field (Elmbridge Canoe Club) and Kyla Holt (Richmond Canoe Club) made an excellent start and led to victory. Johanna Milbrandt (Cambridge Canoe Club) and Jocelyn Allan (Wey Kayak Club) started slightly slower due to the mixed, busy start line causing a lot of wash but paddled strongly through the field to claim second. In the longer and high-competitive U16 22 km K2, Marcell Nagy (Reading Canoe Club) and Henry Pitt (Royal Canoe Club) took third while Ben Eskriett (Gailey Canoe Club) and Owen Attwood (Wey Kayak Club) finished fourth.

Sunday’s programme featured the K1 races. In the U14 girls’ K1, Ruth S began alongside a French paddler but used clean portages to drop her rival on the second lap and paddled the remainder of the course alone to win. Ariana M moved through the field throughout the race and finish eighth. Finn M and Edward S produced solid U14 K1 performances, finishing tenth and eleventh respectively.

The U16 K1 races produced close racing. In the girls’ event a French paddler eventually broke away; Imogen F worked to distance herself from team-mate Kyla H and secured second with Kyla third. Johanna M, competing in her first international K1, put in a confident performance to finish ninth, while Jocelyn A finished twelfth. The U16 boys’ K1 saw Henry P finish sixth and Owen A tenth. Marcell N was in the leading group early but took a wrong turn and attempted a portage a lap too early, costing time and leaving him thirteenth, with Ben E fourteenth.

The course and racing provided significant challenges and opportunities for learning for the whole team. Clean and calm portages proved decisive across the weekend. We hope that the whole team has been enthused by the trip to motivate them into another winter of training.

Thank you to our volunteer staff team that supported the trip and guided the juniors throughout the racing and off the water: Suzanne de Bruijin, Charlie Smith, Brian Greenham, and Zach Benstead.

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