Category: Selection

Please see below for the final details of this weekends assessment race. It is due to very hot over the weekend. If you are racing or spectating, please ensure you are well-hydrated and considering the weather.

If you are unable to attend to spectate, racing will be live streamed via our Facebook group. Updates of results will also be posted on our social media stories throughout the day.

Assessment is per selection policy as detailed on our International Selection page.

Elmbridge K1/C1 MRC Assessment race – 10/5/23

1^st Briefing at 10:00am

Start order:

• 10:30am – 12 miles for Senior & U23 Women K1 and Senior Men C1 (depending on entry numbers) – 6 laps, 4 portages 
• 10:32am – 8.5 miles for Junior Girls K1, Junior Boys C1 and Senior Women C1 (depending on entry numbers) – 4 laps, 2 portages

2^nd Briefing at 2:50pm

Start order:

• 03:20pm – 16 miles for Senior & U23 Men K1 – 8 laps, 6 portages
• 03:22pm – 12 miles for Junior Boys K1 – 6 laps, 4 portages

Start at the white house (an upstream start so this might change if conditions are unfair), paddle upstream around the back of the little island to a 3 buoyed turn, turn anti clockwise and continue downstream via the main channel of the little island (club side), head past the portage outside the club (DO NOT PORTAGE ON THIS LAP), continue down the cut to the 2nd turn just below Desborough Island, and turn anti-clockwise upstream around the back of Desborough Island.

Repeat as appropriate to your race.

The portage is outside the club, using the floating landing stage, up the tow path and back in on the 2nd landing stage. There is a gap between the floating landing stage and the edge, paddlers need to be aware!

On the last lap, you turn in the same place as normal (3 buoy turn), but you finish at the bridge below the club some 300m+ from the top turn. 

YOU DO NOT PORTAGE ON THE LAST LAP

Elmbridge K2/C2 MRC Assessment race – 11/5/23

1^st Briefing at 10:30am

Start order:

• 11:00am – 12 miles for Senior & U23 Women K2 and Senior Men C2 (depending on entry numbers) – 5 laps, 4 portages
• 11:02am – 8.5 miles for Junior Girls K2, Junior Men C2 & Senior Women C2 (depending on entry numbers) – 3 laps, 2 portages

2^nd Briefing at 1:15pm

Start order:

• 01:45pm – 16 miles for Senior & U23 Men K2 – 7 laps, 6 portages
• 01:47pm – 12 miles for Junior Boys K2 – 5 laps, 4 portages

Start at Elmbridge canoe club and continue downstream via the main channel of the big island, continue down the cut to the bottom turn at Walton bridge (staying outside the separation buoy), and turn anti-clockwise upstream and head up the cut on the right hand side, turn around the little island anti clockwise to the first portage.

Repeat as appropriate to your race.

The portage is outside the club, using the floating landing stage, up the tow path and back in on the 2nd landing stage. There is a gap between the floating landing stage and the edge, paddlers need to be aware!

On the last lap, you turn in the same place as normal, but you finish at the bridge below the club some 300m+ from the top turn. 

YOU DO NOT PORTAGE ON THE LAST LAP

This assessment weekend will have a singles long course race on the Saturday and doubles long course race on the Sunday. The assessment will be used for the following:

• Lead assessment for the European Championships
• The K2 assessment will be used with the Short Course Nationals as joint lead assessment for the Sanabria K4 (date now updated in the selection policy here).
• Continuous assessment for the World Championships (although is not the lead assessment for selection to this international)

To be considered for selection for the below internationals, you must complete the availability forms by Midnight on Wednesday 7^th June: 

• European Championships: Euros Availability Form
• Sanabria K4: Sanabria Availability Form

The assessment weekend was due to take place in the Thames Valley. Unfortunately, this has not been possible due an extremely high number of regattas and fates taking place over the same weekend on this stretch of the Thames. Elmbridge have kindly offered to host again. We would like to thank them. It not only keeps the event close to the original area announced but it also an excellent venue for the assessment weekend. We would like to recognise that the K2 race clashes with Royal’s Hasler, which is unfortunate as it is in the same region. We hope that this change in location does not impact their event.

Due to a local raft race, the busy time of year on the Thames, and to reduce interclass wash hanging, the starts will be split across the day into two starts. The Saturday will see a large gap between starts to avoid the local fete raft race. The Sunday starts will be run back to back. We appreciate the timetable may not be ideal for some, however Elmbridge have taken a lot of time to consider the best way to execute a professional and fair assessment event which is reflected in the schedule they have produced. They will shortly publish the race pack and open entries to the event. When open, entries can be found on the entry site: K1/C1 Entries, K2/C2 Entries.

Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the Selection Policy: 2023 Selection Policy. If you have any further questions regarding the Selection Process, please contact the Chair of the Selectors, Nanette North on: marathon.selectors@vol.britishcanoeing.org.uk

The Marathon Selection Committee wanted to provide an update on the team attending the 2023 World Cup and German Nationals. Congratulations to the athletes on their selections to their respective teams.

It was brought to the attention of the Selection Committee that the mitigating circumstances policy was not inclusive of the early selections from the first assessment in 2023. Please find the updated policy with changes made to section 4.1 via the link below. 

If you have any questions on the Selection Policy for 2023, please direct them to Nettie North, Chair of the Selection Committee, here.