Month: July 2026

British Crews Take on Europe’s Best at Spain’s K4 Racing Series

   29 July 2026    Athlete Development, International, Racing

The Spanish K4 racing circuit, taking place in Valladolid and Sanabria, once again delivered an outstanding spectacle of world-class marathon racing. This year’s events were not only incredibly fast but also competed in soaring temperatures, providing a stern test for athletes from across Europe.

Just one week after being crowned European Marathon Champion, Hungarian star Adrian Boros found himself outside the medals in a fiercely contested men’s race. Czechia led the field, closely challenged by Portugal, Denmark, Hungary, Spain and Germany, with the British men’s crew of James How (Norwich Canoe Club), Tim Dowden (Norwich Canoe Club), Cassian Payne (Chelmsford Canoe Club) and Flynn Holt (Richmond Canoe Club) securing a respectable position in an exceptionally strong international field.

The British women’s crew of Nerys Hall (Wey Kayak Club), Matilda Enoch (Nottingham Kayak Club), Sienna Payne (Chelmsford Canoe Club) and Lucy Guest (Nottingham Kayak Club) produced an impressive performance, narrowly missing out on fourth place after a close battle with a strong Danish team. Spain, racing on home waters, proved dominant throughout the competition and claimed gold in both women’s events.

The K4 series once again highlighted the challenge faced by British crews against some of the world’s strongest marathon nations. While pure acceleration and top-end speed remain areas for development, the determination and resilience displayed by the British athletes were evident throughout the racing. Every crew fought relentlessly for position and refused to give ground against more powerful opposition.

A standout moment came from the British women’s crew, stroked by Sienna Payne. Adopting an ambitious tactical approach, the crew chose their own racing line during the opening 800 metres, avoiding the heavy wash created by the leading pack. The bold strategy paid off brilliantly, allowing the crew to reach the first turning buoy in a highly competitive position and catching many rival teams by surprise. The concern and admiration visible among opposing team managers reflected just how effectively the British crew had executed their plan.

Despite the intensity of the racing and temperatures exceeding 30°C, the event also showcased the strong camaraderie that exists within the international paddling community. Once racing had concluded, athletes from across the competing nations could be found cooling off together in the waters of Lake Sanabria, celebrating both competition and friendship.

The event was, once again, superbly hosted by the Spanish Canoe Federation. With more than 70 K4 crews lining up across the various races, the scale and quality of participation were remarkable. Experiencing such a large and highly competitive field offers a clear insight into why Spain continues to enjoy such success on the international stage. Their thriving culture of participation and competition provides a strong foundation for excellence.

The British team leaves Spain motivated and eager for more. The experience has inspired the athletes to continue their preparation and return even stronger next year.

As Team Manager, I would like to place on record my thanks and congratulations to all eight GB athletes. Every athlete gave 100%, conducted themselves with professionalism both on and off the water, and proved themselves worthy representatives of the British vest.

Paul Dimmock
Sanabria K4 Trip Team Manager

Additional Athletes Selection Note – 2026 World Canoe Marathon Championships

   21 July 2026    International, Selection

Following the recent announcement that additional funding had been made available to support the Great Britain team for the 2026 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships, the Marathon Selection Panel has now completed a further review of athlete selections. You can view the full selection note below.

REQUESTS FOR REVIEW

As per the 2026 Selection Policy (published here), any requests to review the selections must be made in writing to the Chair of Selection Committee, Nanette North via the email address [email protected] within 48 hours of the publication of this document. I.E. by 8pm on Thursday 23rd July 2026.

Statement from the Marathon Racing Committee Chair

   20 July 2026    Governance, International, Selection

The Marathon Racing Committee (MRC) manages an annual budget that is reviewed regularly throughout the year. As income and expenditure naturally fluctuate, the Committee continually monitors its financial position to ensure resources are allocated where they can provide the greatest benefit to the sport. Following the recent sale of the previous Squad minibus, the Committee received additional income that was not anticipated when the annual budget was originally set.

Following this recent budget review, the MRC is pleased to confirm that some of this additional funding has been allocated to support the Great Britain team competing at the 2026 World Canoe Marathon Championships.

The Marathon Selection Panel has been informed of this budget increase, enabling the selection of additional athletes to represent Great Britain at the World Marathon Canoe Championships.

We are delighted that this additional investment will provide more athletes with the opportunity to compete on the world stage and wish everyone selected every success in their preparations and at the Championships.

Stan Missen

Marathon Racing Committee Chair

Date Change for the 2026 Hasler Finals: Sunday 18th October

   15 July 2026    National, Racing

Due to circumstances beyond the organisers’ control, the 2026 Hasler Finals will no longer take place on the previously advertised September date and will instead be held on Sunday 18 October 2026.

This change is necessary following a requirement from the Environment Agency for a partial river closure to facilitate the event at the planned venue. Unfortunately, this means the event can no longer be delivered on the original date.

We appreciate that this late change may cause disruption for paddlers, clubs and volunteers who have already planned their racing calendars, club activities and personal commitments around the original date. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

To help minimise the impact, all clubs with events affected by the revised date were contacted before this announcement was made.

While we recognise the challenges this change presents, we hope the paddling community will continue to support the 2026 Hasler Finals and help make it a fitting conclusion to the national marathon racing season.

Finally, we would like to extend our thanks to Richmond Canoe Club for their hard work, flexibility and commitment in ensuring the event can still take place despite the challenges encountered during the planning process.

We look forward to welcoming paddlers from across the country on Sunday 18 October 2026.

2026 National Canoe Marathon Championships highlight strength and depth of the British club scene

   15 July 2026    National, Racing

The 2026 National Canoe Marathon Championships showcased everything that makes marathon paddling so loved: fierce competition, lifelong participation, thriving clubs and an increasingly strong talent pathway stretching from Under-10 paddlers to athletes competing well into their seventies.

Hosted by Wey Kayak Club at Laleham Park on the banks of the River Thames, the championships brought together nearly 800 paddlers from more than 53 clubs for the first canoe marathon event to be held at the venue. Supported by Spelthorne Borough Council and warmly welcomed by the local community, the new course proved an immediate success. The wide river and beach portage created ideal conditions for tactical racing, large groups and close finishes, while the warm weather and welcome breeze ensured an enjoyable weekend.

Across 56 championship races and 616 entries, the event demonstrated the exceptional depth of marathon racing in the UK. Participation was strong throughout the programme, from junior racing through to veteran championships, with clubs from every corner of the country represented on podiums.

To read the full article and to access all event photos taken by Antony Edmonds, visit the news post of the Paddle UK website here.

Selection Note for the 2026 World Championships and French Nationals Development Trip

   14 July 2026    Athlete Development, Athletes, International, Para, Racing, Selection

Please note the Data for the 2026 selection season is now published below, we apologise for the accidental delay with publication of this. We have extended the request for review deadline to 7pm Friday.

The Selection Committee met following the National Marathon Championships to select the teams for the 2026 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships and the Development Team for the French National Marathon Championships.

The Selection Committee would like to thank Wey Kayak Club for hosting the National Marathon Championships and for their hard work in delivering a successful event.

We would also like to congratulate all athletes selected to represent the team and wish them every success in their preparations and racing. 

We look forward to following their performances in France and Argentina.

REQUESTS FOR REVIEW

As per the 2026 Selection Policy (published here), any requests to review the selections must be made in writing to the Chair of Selection Committee, Nanette North via the email address [email protected] within 48 hours of the publication of this document. I.E. by 7pm on Thursday 16th July 2026.

Nanette North, Chair of Marathon Selection Panel

14  / 07 / 2026

British Masters Impress with 12 Podium Finishes in Romania

   8 July 2026    Athletes, International, Masters, Racing

The British Masters Team produced an outstanding set of performances at the European Masters Canoe Marathon Championships in Romania, returning home with an impressive collection of medals and podium finishes.

With a squad of 19 paddlers, Great Britain was one of the largest Masters teams among the 126 athletes competing at the championships. Racing took place in challenging conditions, with high temperatures throughout the event and race starts on both Sunday and Tuesday delayed due to thunderstorms and the associated risk of lightning.

The results reflect the strength and depth of the British Masters team. The squad combined long-established international competitors, paddlers returning to the sport after many years away, and two athletes making their championship debut. Together, they achieved an impressive 12 podium finishes, underlining the continued success of British Masters marathon paddling on the European stage.

Special congratulations go to Jane Millar (Nottingham Kayak Club) and Anja Whelan (Gloucester Canoe Club), who both secured medals in their K1 and K2 events, which is a remarkable achievement at a championship of this calibre.

Podium Finishes

K1

Gold

  • John Escott (Bradford on Avon Canoe Club) – Men’s K1 (70–74)
  • Anja Whelan (Gloucester Canoe Club) – Women’s K1 (35–39)
  • Lynne Fender (Nottingham Kayak Club) – Women’s K1 (60–64)

Silver

  • Jane Millar (Nottingham Kayak Club) – Women’s K1 (70–74)

Bronze

  • Chris Tatam (Swansea Kayak Club) – Men’s K1 (75+)
K2

Gold

  • Anja Whelan (Gloucester Canoe Club) & Rebecca Bird (Falcon Canoe Club) – Women’s K2 (35–44)

Silver

  • Lynne Fender (Nottingham Kayak Club) & Allison Chmiel (Nottingham Kayak Club) – Women’s K2 (35–44)
  • Paul Fielden (Bradford on Avon Canoe Club) & Charlie Mayo (Bradford on Avon Canoe Club) – Men’s K2 (60–64)

Bronze

  • Jane Millar (Nottingham Kayak Club) & Mary Parry (Spain) – Women’s K2 (65–74)
  • Emma Watts (Wey Kayak Club) & Rimma Starenczak (Poland) – Women’s K2 (35–44)
  • John Elliott (Truro Canoe Club) & Linda May (Truro Canoe Club) – Mixed K2 (55–64)

These results are a testament to the dedication, experience and competitive spirit of the British Masters team. Congratulations to all the athletes who represented Great Britain so proudly in Romania and showcased the strength of British canoe marathon racing at Masters level. 

For full results, you can visit the Memosoft site here. 

If you wish to find out more about competing with the British Masters team, you can contact the MRC Masters Lead Bryn Price here.

Thank you to Bryn Price for his support in creating this write-up.

Draft 2026 Annual Consultative Meeting Minutes Now Published

   8 July 2026    ACM, Governance

The draft 2026 Annual Consultative Meeting Minutes are now published on the ACM Minutes page here.

As a reminder, all meeting minutes and ACM minutes can be found via the governance tab on our website as well as information on committee roles and contact details.

National Canoe Marathon Championships 2026 – Entries Closing Tonight!

   5 July 2026    National, Racing

Entries close tonight for next weekend’s National Canoe Marathon Championships 2026 at Laleham Park. Do not miss out on trying out this new venue and racing against the best paddlers in the country.

Visit the entries site here to join.

Live entries can be found here.

Copyright ©2026  Paddle UK Marathon Racing Committee
Powered by Paddle UK