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The 2026 Paddle Worldwide Canoe Marathon World Championships came to a close in Argentina with another day of impressive British performances, highlighted by Beth Gill’s fourth-place finish in the Senior Women’s C1 and a sixth-place result for James Russell and Will Roeser in the Senior Men’s K2.

Overnight, rising river levels slightly altered the course, shortening the portages at either end and presenting a fresh challenge for the final day of racing in Argentina.

The concluding race of both the day and the championships was the Senior Men’s K2, where Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) and Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) lined up alongside Will Short (Elmbridge Canoe Club) and Alex Worgan (Richmond Canoe Club) in a field packed with world and European medallists. Both British crews found themselves caught for top-end speed off the start and immediately had work to do to establish position within the large lead group.

Short and Worgan opted for a tactical route wide left, using the larger wash to move onto the side of the group while avoiding the congestion and collisions developing closer to the bank. Russell and Roeser, meanwhile, found themselves battling in the turbulent back washes of the lead pack, gradually working their way into more favourable positions. As the field approached the first turn, Short and Worgan lost contact with the leaders alongside South Africa’s Lovemore and Vogt. However, they benefitted from the charge through the field by European champions Boros and Erdelyi, using the Hungarian wash to regain contact before enduring a tense half-lap battle to secure a sustainable position within the group.

Russell and Roeser were forced into an even tougher route back. After slipping into a series of chase groups behind the leaders, they narrowly missed the opportunity to follow the Hungarians through but refused to let the front group disappear. Through sheer persistence, they clawed their way back into contention and successfully rejoined the leaders on the approach to the second-lap top turn.

The race continued to ebb and flow as relentless pace changes stretched the field. While Short and Worgan eventually lost touch with the front group and turned their attention to working through dropped crews, Russell and Roeser remained firmly in the fight at the front.

A chaotic first portage fragmented the lead group further and briefly left the British pair detached once again. Undeterred, they used a Norwegian wash to regain contact before launching one of the most impressive moves of the race. Powering hard left after the navigation buoy, they surged through the field and established themselves near the front of the lead group. Another strong portage elevated them further, and for a significant period they looked increasingly comfortable amongst the world’s best crews.

As the race entered its closing stages, the pace began to fluctuate and the chase group containing Short and Worgan started to regain ground. Brief contact was made after the third-to-last portage, only for another acceleration to split the race once more.

The decisive moment came at the second-to-last portage when an attack by Danish crew Jorgensen and Hansen fractured the lead group. Russell and Roeser found themselves just off the front alongside Portugal’s Ramalho and Pimenta and Norway’s Vold and Buch. Yet even then they refused to concede. A huge effort almost brought them back into contention before the penultimate turn and set up one final push to the finish.

A gutsy final portage and committed last lap secured sixth place overall, finishing ahead of the previous world champions, only 30 seconds behind the winners and capping one of Britain’s strongest performances of the championship week. This result is particularly impressive as Roeser is still a junior, having finished in the top ten of that category the previous day. 

Short and Worgan also closed their championship strongly. They secured a highly encouraging eleventh place in their first Senior World Championship K2 campaign together, hopefully providing momentum for future years to come.

Earlier in the day, Beth Gill (Nottingham Kayak Club) delivered one of the grittiest performances of the championships in the Senior Women’s C1. As she had done earlier in the week, Gill exploded off the start line and immediately established herself amongst the race leaders. A decisive move by Chile’s Maillard approaching the first turn stretched the field, while a minor collision forced Gill to drop back. The setback did little to dent her determination. Gill worked tirelessly through the wide sections of the river to reconnect with the medal battle, finding herself alongside C1 legend Babak and Hungary’s Matkovics in the chase for silver and bronze.

However, the top turn repeatedly proved costly. On both occasions Gill lost contact with the group, only to respond by taking the most direct lines to the navigation buoys and steadily hauling herself back into contention. A strong portage and sustained effort once again brought her back to the medal battle, but one final split at the turn ultimately proved decisive.

Despite refusing to give in until the finish, Gill was unable to bridge back across during the closing laps and crossed the line fourth in the world, narrowly missing out on the podium after a brave and determined performance.

The Senior Women’s K2 saw Katie Brookes (Richmond Canoe Club) and junior world champion Dianora De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) line up after an already demanding week of racing. Starting from the less favourable right-hand side of the pontoon, the British crew faced an immediate challenge to reach the lead group despite making a strong start.

Settling into a chase alongside Denmark’s Nielsen and Hostrup, Brookes and De Bilio gradually worked their way back towards Ireland’s Caffey and Cullen before joining forces for much of the seven-lap contest. Following a week that had already included double junior world gold for De Bilio, the pair added another solid senior performance to finish thirteenth overall.

As the championships drew to a close, the British team could reflect on a successful week in Argentina. Junior world titles and multiple top-ten finishes across a range of classes demonstrated both the current strength and future potential of British canoe marathon racing internationally. The atmosphere throughout the week showcased the very best of international marathon competition, and as the curtain falls on the 2026 season, there are certainly plenty of reasons for optimism heading into 2027.

To see all of the British results over the week, visit the memosoft results page here. If you have missed any of the races, they are all available via the Planet Canoe Youtube channel now.

The penultimate day of the 2026 Paddle Worldwide Canoe Marathon World Championships produced another strong set of performances for the British team, led by James Russell’s sixth-place finish in the Senior Men’s K1 and a top-ten result for European Junior Champion Will Roeser.

The final race of the day was one of the most anticipated of the entire championships, with a packed crowd creating an electric atmosphere around the course as the world’s best marathon paddlers lined up for the Senior Men’s K1 title. James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) was immediately forced to work hard after the start to secure a strong wash position but soon settled onto the second V-wash behind the race leader. Shortly after the opening turn, Denmark’s Pedersen moved to the front and dramatically increased the pace, causing the lead group to begin splintering.

Russell initially lost contact with the leaders before helping form a four-boat chase group sitting around 50 metres behind the front pack. While the leaders surged and slowed repeatedly, the chase group maintained a more consistent pace and gradually closed the gap, successfully rejoining the front group before the first portage. A strong second portage kept Russell firmly in medal contention, but another increase in pace eventually proved decisive. Alongside South Africa’s Lovemore, Russell was forced into a battle for the remaining positions alongside Norway’s Vold and Spain’s Prada.

As the race entered its closing stages, Russell produced one final effort approaching the last top turn, breaking apart the chase group and placing himself in the ideal position for the sprint finish. He successfully defended sixth place from late challenges by both Vold and Prada, securing sixth in the world for the second consecutive year and finishing just three minutes behind the winner. The race itself was a spectacle from start to finish, with Pedersen ultimately claiming a fifth consecutive world title.

Earlier in the day, Will Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) lined up in a highly competitive K1 Junior Men’s field featuring 34 athletes, including defending world champion Sean Butterly of Ireland. The European Champion made a strong start from a favourable draw on the left side of the start line and quickly established himself within the lead group. An early navigation error by the race leader briefly complicated matters, but Roeser reacted quickly to take the correct route around the navigation buoy before working his way back into contention. An exceptionally well-executed first turn saw Roeser emerge in an even stronger wash position than he entered, leaving him firmly established amongst the leading boats.

As in 2025, AIN athlete Nekrasov took control of the race and steadily increased the pace at the front. The sustained pressure gradually reduced the size of the lead group, with Roeser battling hard to maintain contact. The chaotic opening portage, where multiple penalties were issued, proved a pivotal moment. Although Roeser fought hard to bridge back across to the leaders, successive accelerations from the front group made the task increasingly difficult. With the medals moving out of reach, he switched his focus to securing a strong championship result, eventually crossing the line eighth in a time of 1:37:57 to record another World Championship top-ten finish.

The Senior Women’s K1 saw both Katie Brookes (Richmond Canoe Club) and newly crowned double junior World Champion Dianora De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) take on the challenge of racing against the world’s best senior athletes over the long course distance. Less than 24 hours after claiming two junior world titles, De Bilio returned to the water to test herself at senior level. A strong start saw her establish herself on the back of the lead group during the opening stages, but after an intense championship programme the accumulated fatigue gradually began to show. As the relentless pace took effect, De Bilio settled into a chase group and continued to battle strongly against athletes with considerably more senior international experience. She eventually crossed the line seventeenth in 2:13:10, gaining valuable experience at senior level as a junior.

Brookes returned to racing after illness had disrupted her short course opportunity earlier in the week. Following a rest day, she produced an encouraging performance, making the back of the lead group during the opening lap and remaining in contention through the early stages. When Australia’s Mann increased the pace and fragmented the front group, Brookes found herself racing alongside Hungary’s Csepe and Spain’s Barrios in the chasing positions and she steadily moved through the race to secure fourteenth place overall in a time of 2:07:46.

With one day of racing remaining, Britain’s paddlers now turn their attention to the final races of the championships as they look to close out a successful week in Argentina on a high. Racing resumes with Beth Gill (Nottingham Kayak Club) contesting the C1 Senior Women long course, before the Senior Women and Senior Men K2 events bring the British programme to a close. Make sure you tune in to cheer on the team.

Full results are available via the Memosoft app. Follow our social media channels for behind-the-scenes content from Argentina, while all racing throughout the week will be streamed live via the Planet Canoe YouTube channel. Further viewing information can be found on our website post here.

Day two of racing at the 2026 Paddle Worldwide World Canoe Marathon Championships was dominated by biblical rain, thunder and lightning, creating a challenging and ever-changing environment for athletes, coaches and organisers alike. While the British team had missed last week’s wet and wild Hasler Finals while travelling to Argentina, Mother Nature appeared determined to ensure they didn’t miss out entirely, delivering similarly testing conditions on the other side of the world.

The weather repeatedly disrupted competition throughout the day, forcing several schedule changes. The C1 Junior Men’s race was shortened by one lap while athletes were mid-race as an approaching thunderstorm forced officials to act quickly.

Despite the challenging conditions, the British team produced a number of strong performances across the day’s racing.

The C1 Junior Women’s race highlighted the growing strength of the category, with 13 athletes lining up on the start line.

Bella Keane (Richmond Canoe Club)  made a composed and confident start, settling into a strong rhythm while making good use of the wash from Canada’s Victoria Tran. 

As the race developed, an AIN athlete, a Portuguese paddler and Tran established a breakaway at the front, with Keane leading the chase behind. Strong portaging once again proved to be one of her greatest strengths, regularly recording some of the fastest in the field.

“I had a really strong start which set up well to avoid incidents. I felt I was consistently fighting to get on a wash. Conditions were nice. There was wind with the flow but training on the Thames has prepared me for that. Before coming into the competition, I did a lot of running so it meant after the portages I wasn’t fully spent so I could make the most out of them.”

The battle for fourth, fifth and sixth place remained closely contested throughout much of the race. A determined final push saw Keane overtake Hungary’s Ordogh in the closing stages to secure fifth place in a time of 1:05:21. The result improves on her finish from 2025 and is particularly encouraging given she still has another year remaining in the junior category. Bella will return later in the week to compete in the Under 23 C1 event, giving her another opportunity to test herself against older and more experienced competition.

“I’d come 6th last year so I wanted to improve on that and I had been consistently pushing all race to catch back up so I wasn’t going to let it go. I’ve very pleased with my result as I feel that it’s reflective of my progress this year.”

The short course heats brought further success for the team.

Dianora De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) raced with impressive composure throughout her heat, remaining calm and confident while making excellent use of the washes around her. Balancing efficiency with speed on the portages, she comfortably secured first place to progress to the final.

Will Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) faced an exceptionally competitive heat featuring a combination of established junior sprint athletes and experienced marathon paddlers. A challenging start and opening lap left him with work to do, but effective use of the washes helped him close the gap to the leaders. A superb first portage brought him back into contention and, after managing his race expertly, he secured a position in the lead group of four heading into the final portage. From there, he held his position to claim an automatic qualification place for the final.

Katie Brookes’ (Richmond Canoe Club) race was heavily affected by the day’s weather disruptions. Having already completed most of her warm-up, she was forced off the water when the first thunderstorm of the day delayed proceedings. The interruption made for a difficult start and left her battling to find the key washes from the back of the group. Despite fighting hard throughout and remaining in contention for qualification positions during the early stages of the race, she ultimately finished 11th, narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Feeling unwell, the result did not fully reflect her capabilities, and she now turns her focus on rest and recovery ahead of the long course races on Saturday and Sunday.

Will Short (Elmbridge Canoe Club) was also in action in the short course heats as he stepped up to senior-level for the first time at a World Championships. A quick start kept him firmly in contention with the lead group, but incidents at both the top and bottom turns briefly cost him contact with the front paddlers. On each occasion, he worked hard to close the gap and put himself back into the fight for a qualification spot.

The race came down to a dramatic sprint finish for the final automatic qualification spot. Going head-to-head with Germany’s Paulfer and France’s Catelle, Short missed out on direct qualification by the narrowest of margins. However, his performance was rewarded as his time was fast enough to secure progression as one of the fastest qualifiers.

James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) delivered one of the most assured performances of the day. A strong and confident start allowed him to establish himself on the washes immediately, before moving onto the side wash of Portugal’s Pimenta heading towards the second turn. With a clear focus on staying out of trouble, James raced with confidence throughout, crossing the line in second place to secure automatic qualification for the final.

As the afternoon progressed, the worsening weather once again became the story of the day. Athletes, coaches and officials waited for well over an hour in the hope that conditions would improve sufficiently for racing to continue. Ultimately, the storms refused to relent and all remaining finals were called off.

While disappointing for those who had earned their place in the finals, the early finish did at least offer the team an unexpected opportunity to recover. With racing abandoned for the day, the squad took advantage of some downtime, enjoyed some well-earned ice cream, and headed off for an early night ahead of another busy day of competition.

The competition schedule will now be adapted to accommodate the postponed short course finals before attention turns to the long course and crew boat events later in the week.

Full results are available via the Memosoft app. Follow our social media channels for behind-the-scenes content from Argentina, while all racing throughout the week will be streamed live via the Planet Canoe YouTube channel. Further viewing information can be found on our website post here.

The wait is over. The 2026 Canoe Marathon World Championships have arrived, and this year the world’s best marathon paddlers head to Argentina for the biggest event on the international calendar.

Over the coming days, Great Britain will be represented by a small but talented team of athletes across the junior, under-23, senior and para categories. After months of training, racing and preparation, this team has travelled to Argentina ready to take on the very best from around the globe. World Championship racing always delivers unforgettable moments and fierce competition, and we’re looking forward to seeing what this team can achieve over the next week.

Our Masters team have already started their championship campaign, competing ahead of the main programme. We have a small team of three athletes that competed on Monday in the K1 races. If you’d like to see the full Master Championships results, they can be found here.

The main Championships begin on Wednesday 21st October and continue through to Sunday 25th October. Full schedule details can be found below.

Start lists and results for all events can be found here. We’ll also be sharing updates, results and behind-the-scenes content from Argentina across our social media channels throughout the week, so be sure to follow along and support the team.

All racing will be streamed live via the Planet Canoe YouTube Channel. Please note that the coverage requires a channel membership and is therefore behind a paywall. Information on how to access the coverage can be found here.

Wednesday 21st October Schedule

Thursday 22nd October Schedule

Friday 23rd October Schedule

Saturday 24th October Schedule

Sunday 25th October Schedule

We wish every member of the team the very best of luck as they take on the world’s best marathon paddlers over the coming week. We can’t wait to follow the action and cheer the team on!