Category: Athlete Development

Opening day of elite races at the Canoe Marathon European Championships produces silverware for the British Para athletes

Wednesday 4th June saw the start of the Elite races for the 2025 edition of the Canoe Marathon European Championships in Ponte-de-Lima, Portugal. The 24-strong British team travelled out on Monday and Tuesday with the first para races taking place on Wednesday of the championship.

Charlotte Creamer (Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club) and Shaun Cook (Norwich Canoe Club) took to the water to race in the KL3 Women and VL2 Men categories respectively. Despite para canoe only appearing for the second time at the European Championships as an exhibition race, the para races are becoming more competitive with a larger number of entries from different countries. We are looking forward to seeing this category grow year on year, particularly as it has now been made an official World Championship category of race for the 2025 edition.

To read more and to find out about the Masters racing results, please visit the Paddle UK news post here.

Selection Note for the 2025 German Nationals Team

Please see below the selection note for the 2025 German Nationals Team.

We would like to congratulate the athletes on their selection to the team.

REQUESTS FOR REVIEW

As per the 2025 Selection Policy (published here), any requests to review the selections must be made in writing to the Chair of the Selection Committee, Nanette North at Marathon Selectors [email protected] within 48 hours of the publication of this document, i.e. by 18:00 Saturday 19th April.

Invitation to ECA Marathon Development Training Camp 2025

Please find the official invitation to the ECA Marathon Development Training Camp above, which will take place in Ponte de Lima, Portugal, from May 30 to June 8, 2025.

Application deadline: April 15, 2025

Apply at: [email protected]

Junior Development Squad Summer Camp 2025 Expression of Interest

The MRC, SRC and Paddle England Talent pleased to announce that expressions of interest are now being taken for junior paddlers seeking to attend the JDS Summer Camp taking place at Norwich Canoe Club from Sunday 10th – Wednesday 13th August 2025. 

The camp will provide an opportunity for juniors paddlers to develop their racing skills across a number of days, as well as experience camp life. The camp will cost in the region of £150 (TBC) which will include use of Norwich Canoe Club facilities, food, tent and site fees and all activities inclusive of the camp.

The camp will be predominantly aimed at those juniors who are 16 and below and who are not representing GB internationally presently. Standards for eligibility will be in line with current JDS standards.  

The JDS Steering Group will review all expressions of interest and offer places based on athletes meeting the criteria, total capacity for the camp and previous engagement with the JDS. Expressions of interest will close on Friday 25th April at 17:00pm.

To express interest in attending, please click HERE.

2025 German Nationals Selection Update

We look forward to the first assessment race this Saturday 29th March at Norwich Canoe Club.

Reminder:

  • This race is the lead assessment for the Junior and U23 Development trip to the German Nationals.
  • It will also be used as supporting evidence for future selections where further data is required.
  • We recommend that all athletes seeking international selections in the 2025 season attend this first race.
  • All athletes must wear their club vest.
  • A link to the race entry can be found here: Norwich Assessment Race Entry
  • A link to the availability form (which must be completed by 22:00 TODAY) can be found here: German Nationals Availability Form

NOTE: The selection meeting for the German Nationals will now take place WC14th April, following the announcement of the Sprint selections. This later date will allow athletes to amend their availability accordingly so that selections are only made from athletes who are available to travel to the German Nationals on the 15-18th May. Announcements are expected to be published by 18th April.

If you have any further question about the selection process, please refer to the 2025 Selection policy found here. If you still have any questions, please contact the chair of the Selection Committee, Nanette North: [email protected]

2025 German Nationals Availability Form

On Saturday 29th March, Norwich Canoe Club are hosting the first assessment of 2025 season. This race is the lead assessment for the Junior and U23 Development trip to the German Nationals. It will also be used as supporting evidence for future selections where further data is required. We recommend that all athletes seeking international selections in the 2025 season attend this first race.

A link to the race entry can be found here: Norwich Assessment Race Entry

For those seeking selection for the German Nationals, please note the following:

  • All athletes seeking selection, even those who were preselected for the French Nationals in 2024, must confirm their availability by completing this form by 22:00 on the 27th March
  • The form can be found here: German Nationals Availability Form
  • If there no form, athletes will be assumed to be not available.
  • All athletes seeking selection must race the assessment race on the 29th March, even those who were pre-selected for the French Nationals in 2024.
  • If there are spare places from pre-selected athletes not taking up their place, these places will be offered to U18 & U23 athletes
  • The selections will be done by benchmarking across the classes, but will also be informed by the logistics constraints of the pre-booked trip

If you have any further question about the selection process, please refer to the 2025 Selection policy found here. If you still have any questions, please contact the chair of the Selection Committee, Nanette North: [email protected]

JDS Winter Skills Days 2024/25: Day 4 sign-up now open!

The MRC, SRC and Paddle England Talent are pleased to announce that our fourth JDS winter series event is now open for booking. Please click HERE if you would like to book a spot. 

The event will be taking place at Reading Canoe Club. The day will have a K4 focus for athletes and will seek to develop knowledge, understanding and skills for crewboat racing. This JDS event will be led by Imogen Collins and Nerys Hall.

For more information about the JDS, including entry criteria and to sign up please click HERE. As a reminder, the cost is £10. Sign up closes on Friday 7th March at 17:00. Late entries won’t be accepted.  

Club Coaches are encouraged to attend, either to support the running of the sessions (on the water) or to shadow and learn for development opportunities. To do this please sign up HERE. Coaches that will earn 10 CPD points for their coaching record. 

JDS Winter Skills Days 2024/25: Day 3 sign-up now open!

The MRC, SRC and Paddle England Talent are pleased to announce that our third JDS winter series event is now open for booking. Please click HERE if you would like to book a spot. 

The event will be taking place at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham. The day will be in K4s and will have a focus on introducing and developing race day processes, as well as supporting the development of crew boat skills. The day will be led by Imogen Collins, while being supported by the JDS Steering Group. There will be also be a lunchtime talk as well as a parent talk available.

For more information about the JDS, including entry criteria and to sign up please click HERE. As a reminder, the cost is £10. Sign up closes on Friday 24th January at 17:00. Late entries won’t be accepted.  

Club Coaches are encouraged to attend, either to support the running of the sessions (on the water) or to shadow and learn for development opportunities. To do this please sign up HERE. Coaches that will earn 10 CPD points for their coaching record. 

JDS Winter Skills Days 2024/25: Day 2 sign-up now open!

The MRC, SRC and Paddle England Talent are pleased to announce that our second JDS winter series event is now open for booking. Please click HERE if you would like to book a spot. 

The event will be taking place at Papercourt Lake, near Guildford on Saturday 14th December. The day will be in K2/C2s and will seek to develop crew boat skills amongst paddlers, including building an understanding of how to run the boat, the importance of communication skills and pacing. Paddlers will need to bring a K2/C2 to the event, please speak to your club about borrowing if needed and/or liaise with other paddlers who may attend.  

The session specific coaching will be led by Maia Wallace-Loziou (Richmond Canoe Club) & Becky Solway (Elmbridge Canoe Club) throughout the day, while being supported by the JDS Steering Group. The steering group will be running an educational lunchtime session around motivators and goals for the juniors as well to support conversations with their coaches at their home clubs.

For more information about the JDS, including entry criteria and to sign up please click HERE. As a reminder, the cost is £10. Sign up closes on Friday 6th December at 17:00. Late sign-ups won’t be accepted.  

Club Coaches are encouraged to attend, either to support the running of the sessions (on the water) or to shadow and learn for development opportunities. To do this please sign up HERE. Coaches that will earn 10 CPD points for their coaching record. 

Junior Development Squad Winter Series 24/25 Day 1 Sign-up

The MRC, SRC and Paddle England Talent Department pleased to announce that our first JDS winter series event is now open for booking. Please click HERE if you would like to book a spot. 

The event will be taking place at Gloucester Canoe Club on Saturday 19th October. The day will be in K2/C2s and will seek to develop crew boat skills amongst paddlers, including building an understanding of how to run the boat, the importance of communication skills and pacing. Paddlers will need to bring a K2/C2 to the event, please speak to your club about borrowing if needed and/or liaise with other paddlers who may attend.  

The day will be led by Alice Murphy & Holly Mobbs. 

For more information about the JDS, including entry criteria and to sign up please click HERE. As a reminder, the cost is £10. Sign up closes on Friday 11th October at 17:00. Late entries won’t be accepted.  

Club Coaches are encouraged to attend. If any coach would like to play a more formal role in the day by supporting the delivery to paddlers we would be very appreciative, to do this please sign up HERE. Coaches that will earn 10 CPD points for their coaching record. These days would not function without volunteer coaches and we are greatly appreciative of ALL coaches that can offer some time to support and are also willing to learn and develop practices during the day.