Category: Athletes

Canoe Marathon International Selection Policy 2025

   28 February 2025    Athletes, International, Racing, Selection

Please find the 2025 Selection Policy: HERE.

The MRC would like to acknowledge the delay to the publication of the 2025 policy. This was due to a delay in Paddle UK locking the discipline budget.

There are some changes in the International event schedule for 2025. It is important fully review the policy. Key changes are:

  • No Waterlands due to a clash with the Sprint Selection Regatta, instead the German Nationals will be used.
  • No European World Cup, therefore increased numbers have been budgeted for the European Championships.
  • World Cup and Super Cup are in China. No team will be sent but eligible athletes may request to attend, self funded.

Information on the first assessment will follow with the availability form in the next two weeks.

If you have any questions about the policy, please direct them to the Chair of Selections: Nanette North [email protected]

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

   22 February 2025    Athlete Development, Athletes, Coaching

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. 

European Masters Championships 2025

   22 February 2025    Athletes, International, Racing

Registration for the European Masters Championships to be help in Portugal is now open and you can find the first bulletin for the event here.

Paddle UK need to be informed of any team members going. Information to follow on this.

Transport of Boats

The plan for the trailer taking kayaks to the European Masters Championships has been finalised.

The Trailer will be loading on the 24th May and the 25th May from Maidstone. This is a weekend to facilitate people bringing boats.

We will be returning to Maidstone on the 6th June and boat collections will be on the 7 & 8th June.

This will allow boats to be delivered at the weekend and collected likewise at the weekend after we return from Portugal.

The cost per boat will be £170.00.

As usual the cost will include the Insurance needed to cover any import / export duty for a boat not able to be returned to the UK.  This does not cover the actual boat, and paddlers are reminded that you can organise your own Boat Insurance through your Household Insurance or through Paddle UK Deal.

Team Kit

Joe Fitzpatrick, MRC Kit Lead, is ordering the new Paddle UK kit. If you still have the Team GB kit, we used last year this will still be valid for the European Championships. We will provide an update soon on the new kit if you wish to update.

Bryn, the MRC Masters Lead, will have a couple of Podium Jackets that will need to be worn when you get on the podium.   

K2 Races 

As usual, we hope to field a strong team in both the K1 and K2 events. If you have not yet found a K2 partner, please use the Masters WhatsApp group to try to link up with a paddler in an age group the same as or near your age group. Access can be achieved by emailing the MRC Masters Lead here.

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

   12 January 2025    Athlete Development, Athletes, Coaching

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. 

Masters International Racing 2025 Opportunities

   17 December 2024    Athletes, International, Masters, Racing

2025 will see three great international races that we hope to have GB Masters competing in.

The Waterlands International race, 12th April,  in Holland is a challenging marathon on canals and a lake. The windy conditions make this a true test of stability and stamina. Entries are now open and there may be places on the Paddle UK trailer or car share with other paddlers.

European Masters Championships will be on the 2nd & 3rd June in Portugal. Provided there is enough interest, we will be taking the Masters trailer.

World Masters Championships will be in Hungary on the 2nd & 3rd September. We will be taking the Masters trailer to this great event.

To help with planning and coordination please let the Masters lead, Bryn Price, know if you want to join the team for any of these events via his email here.

Updated Paddlesport Head Injury Guidance

   27 November 2024    Athletes, Coaching

Please see the linked information of the updated Paddlesport Head Injury Guidance as published by PaddleUK. Head injuries can occur in various ways and it is imperative that anyone within Paddlesport is able to spot the signs of these type of incidents, whether as a coach, race organiser or just a paddler themselves.

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

   23 November 2024    Athlete Development, Athletes, Coaching

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. 

Training Camp Spots: Individuals and Clubs

   23 November 2024    Athletes, Coaching

The German canoe marathon team is planning a training camp in Crestuma/Portugal from March 6th to March 22nd, 2025. For this purpose, they are looking for common partners to form a strong training group from which everyone can benefit.

We are at the ELIO training camp in Crestuma. Everyone has to book their own journey.

The following services are provided (60 Euro per day per person and each group gets its own invoice):

  • Shuttle Airport
  • Laundry service
  • Motorboat (petrol extra)
  • Rental boat
  • Full board
  • Group accommodation for 2-4 people, separately by arrangement.

The camp is accompanied by two German trainers: Elena Colajanni and Reinhard Ross. Contents of the training are individual after consultation with the trainer group.

Pre-register by November 25th, 2024.
Final registration by January 5, 2025.

Total participants according to free capacity, whoever registers first is there first.

Contact Reinhard Ross via his email here.

National School Championships 2024 – Entries now open!

   17 October 2024    Athletes, National, Racing, Schools Racing

The MRC and Devizes to Westminster Organisation are looking forward to hosting the 2024 edition of the National School Championships on Sunday 17th November at Hawley Lake.

For full information on entry requirements, please visit the DW website page here.

To enter, you can download the entry form here.

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

   2 October 2024    Athlete Development, Athletes, Coaching

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.

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