Reigning European marathon champion James Russell started his season strong with a bronze medal in the short course race at the 2026 Canoe Marathon World Cup in Bazhong, China.
An early season opportunity for the world’s best marathon kayakers to assess their form on the international stage, this year’s World Cup saw James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) take on the Senior Men’s short course and long course K1 races.
To read the full article, visit the PaddleUK website here.
The Marathon Racing Committee’s 2026 Annual Consultative Meeting will be taking place online at 8pm on Monday 15th June, as previously advertised.
As a reminder, please make sure your club has registered to vote for the ACM to ensure you are represented. All clubs registered and who have raced within marathon races this year have the ability to send a representative for voting as well as raising anything for the committee discuss. Please get involved to help us direct the development of marathon racing in this country.
Please see below for the relevant papers for this years edition.
Following the conclusion of the assessment races held at Nottingham and Elmbridge Canoe Clubs, the Selection Panel are pleased to announce the team selected for the 2026 European Championships as well as the Sanabria K4 team. The Panel would like to thank Nottingham Kayak Club and Elmbridge Canoe Club for hosting the assessment events.
We would like to congratulate the athletes on their selections to their respective teams.
Please view the selection note below for full explanation of selections and teams as well as results and HC data from the recent assessments.
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 6pm on 27th May 2026.
Please note that the Marathon Racing Committee ACM will be taking place on the 15th June at 8pm.
Each club needs to nominate a representative to receive voting rights during the ACM. This can be done on the link below and should be done by 10pm on Monday 9th June. Every racing club is entitled to one vote at the ACM.
The ACM offers a formal space for the marathon racing community to engage with the committee and support the development of the sport further. We strongly encourage ALL clubs involved with marathon racing to attend and nominate a representative to vote. We also encourage ALL members of the marathon racing committee to attend even without voting rights.
The MRC will also be re-electing committee members at the ACM.
We are always looking for passionate people to join the committee and help drive positive change forward within the sport. This year we have two unfilled seats and would warmly invite anyone interested in the work of the marathon racing committee to get in touch at [email protected] as soon as possible, particularly if you have an interest in helping with: Coaching, Senior Athlete Development, Events, Junior Athlete Development, Media, Rules & Safeguarding.
There are various roles available with differing levels of commitment. All perspectives and experiences are encouraged and welcomed too.
James Russell racing at the recent Short Course Nationals in Manvers.
James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) will be the sole representative for Great Britain in the first major canoe marathon international of the 2026 season. The marathon world cup will take place this weekend in China, where the top international competitors have been invited by the organising committee to compete.
James will race over the short course and long course distance with some races at sociable hours for British viewers to tune in.
On Saturday morning, James will race his short course heat at 02:15 BST and, if he qualifies to the final, he will compete for medals at 08:30 BST. On Sunday morning, James will line up for the long course distance at 09:45 BST. With a large pot of prize money on the line, it is set to be some intense racing!
You can follow along via our socials throughout the weekend as well as through the event live stream here. Live results can be found here.
UK Coaching run a free quarterly webinar that supports coaches working with talented athletes—whether in the talent pathway, schools, or clubs. All webinars are delivered by subject matter experts and UK Coaching staff.
These webinars cover different topics every session but past webinars can the watched on demand by registering for free as a UK Coaching Club member and accessing post-session recordings from your member dashboard, via Member Benefits.
For more details and to book onto the webinars, visit the website page here.
The British National Short Course Championships visited Manvers Lake for the first time in 2026. A busy one-day competition, the short course distance delivers high‑intensity racing with multiple laps and portages across a 3.6km course that tests speed, and tactics. Sunday’s championships showcased exactly that: tight packs, dramatic portage sprints, and fiercely contested finishes that kept spectators lining the banks throughout the day.
The event was created by James Smythe, the former secretary of the Marathon Racing Committee and former Team Manager of international teams, after witnessing the distance at World Championship competitions. The 2026 edition of the event took place at a new venue, after several years of competing in Peterborough. Sadly, the sunshine did not join in and competitors, spectators and event volunteers were “treated” to light rain showers for a large chunk of the day.
In the Senior Men’s K1, James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) retained his title after a hard‑fought race in which Matthew Collinge (Fowey River Canoe Club) and Matthew Johnson (Nottingham Kayak Club) kept the pressure on throughout. The trio hit the final straight together, with Russell producing a decisive sprint to secure the win for another year.
The Under‑23 Men’s title went to former junior short course world champion William Short (Elmbridge Canoe Club) in his first year out of the junior ranks, finishing just seconds ahead of Sam Cribbett (Nottingham Kayak Club). Fresh from winning the junior race earlier in the day, under 18 paddler William Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) delivered another impressive performance to take third overall.
In the Senior Women’s K1, Katie Brookes (Richmond Canoe Club) claimed her first national short course title, but only after a thrilling duel with under 18 athlete Dianora De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club). The pair were inseparable for much of the race, with Brookes edging ahead in a dramatic sprint finish off the final turn buoy. De Bilio’s performance also secured her the Under 23 women’s title, while Thames world record holder Brynde Kreft (Falcon Canoe Club) completed the senior podium in third.
With Dianora’s race putting her at the top of the Under 23 women, Sophie Dunlop (Elmbridge Canoe Club) took second in her first year out of juniors, with Jessie Urquhart (Nottingham Kayak Club) finishing third.
The canoe events featured a sole competitor, but a standout one: Hannah Toovey (Glasgow Kayak Club), who secured both the Senior Women’s C1 and Junior Women’s C1 titles.
In the Paracanoe KL categories, Jon White (Exeter Canoe Club) powered to victory in the men’s race, while Charlotte Creamer (Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club) added another national title to her name in the women’s event. Both won gold at the 2025 European Marathon Championships in their respective categories.
The junior races were among the most fiercely contested of the day, with spectators eagerly predicting podiums as the fields lined up. Before their senior race heroics, both Dianora De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) and William Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) secured commanding wins in the junior girls’ and junior boys’ K1 races respectively.
The junior girls’ race produced a flurry of late‑race drama, with the final podium spots decided in the final 200 metres. Matilda Burton (Elmbridge Canoe Club) surged through to take second as well as the Under 16 title, while Imogen Field (Elmbridge Canoe Club) claimed third overall and second in the Under 16 category. In the Under 14 girls, Adriana De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) took the win, followed by Edith Smerdon (Chelmsford Canoe Club) in second and Emily Wainwright (Nottingham Kayak Club) in third.
The junior boys’ race was equally intense. Sam Dickson (Falcon Canoe Club) secured second place, while Tyler Kinder (Reading Canoe Club) celebrated a hard-earned third after a close battle with Isaac Popham-Coveley (Falcon Canoe Club), who finished fourth. Doogal Barnett (Reading Canoe Club) dominated the Under 16 boys’ K1, with Finn Meredith (Elmbridge Canoe Club) and Edward Stroud (Wey Kayak Club) completing the podium. It was a successful day for the Barnett family, as Fergus Barnett (Reading Canoe Club) also claimed the Under 14 boys’ title, ahead of Marco Mangiantini (Royal Canoe Club) in second and George Ockenden (Elmbridge Canoe Club) in third.
In the Veteran Men’s K1, Matthew Enoch (Nottingham Kayak Club) delivered another confident performance to retain his title for another year, with Tom Dawson (Falcon Canoe Club) second and Juan Caruncho (Barking and Dagenham Canoe Club) third. Brett Sirrell (Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club) took the Over‑54 men’s win, while Guy Holmes secured the Over‑64 men’s title.
The Veteran Women’s K1 final came down to yet another sprint finish, with Anja Whelan (Gloucester Canoe Club) taking the victory just ahead of Joanne Bates (Falcon Canoe Club), who also claimed the Over‑44 women’s title. Maggie Dilai (Nottingham Kayak Club) completed the overall podium in third. Lynne Fender (Nottingham Kayak Club) won the Over‑54 women’s category, and Jane Millar (Nottingham Kayak Club) topped the Over‑64 women’s field.
The Marathon Racing Committee are greatly appreciative to Manvers Waterfront Boat Club for their support and time to host this event. It was amazing to run a national event further north and a great opportunity to support the Northern and Scottish regions as well as showing off the amazing sport of canoe marathon to new communities. Despite the rain, the event went down well with an excellent site for racers and spectators alike.
Mark Benton, Chair, Manvers Waterfront Boat Club said, “We were delighted to welcome Paddle UK to Manvers for the Canoe Marathon Short Course Nationals. Hosting an event of this scale was a fantastic opportunity to showcase Manvers Lake and the surrounding area, and to welcome paddlers from across the UK to our site. It’s always great to see the venue supporting high‑profile sporting events and being enjoyed by so many competitors and spectators.”
The National Short Course Championships is one of the early events in the 2026 season, with the main National Long Course Championships taking place on the 11-12th July in Laleham. The tight racing across all categories as well as the intense podium battles at the Short Course event highlights the potential excitement of the season ahead. In terms of internationals, James Russell will compete at the marathon World Cup in China at the end of this month, with the European Championships taking place during the last week of June. Excitingly, the World Championships will take place in Argentina during the month of October, with a small but exceptional team due to be selected for it. To follow along, make sure you are keeping an eye on the Marathon Racing Committee website and social media channels (Facebook Page and Instagram Page).
For full results from all heats and finals, please visit our live results page here.
To access all photos taken by Antony Edmonds during the event, please visit Google Drive here.
If you are interested in marathon racing, use the PaddleUK club finder to find your closest marathon racing club and get in touch. We have regional races taking place all over the country most weekends throughout the spring and summer as well as many amazing clubs offering community spaces. It can also be a great way to get out and enjoy the incredible British countryside too!
The MRC Development Team delivered an impressive set of performances at the 2026 Waterlands Marathon on Saturday 18 April, taking on the renowned 24-km course through the canals and waterways surrounding Amsterdam. The British squad of 12 athletes, nine juniors and three under‑23 paddlers, joined a world‑class international field for one of Europe’s most distinctive marathon races.
The Waterlands Marathon is famous for its variety: tight right‑angle turns through narrow dykes, long exposed stretches of wind‑affected canalsl, and fast mass starts featuring up to 80 boats. The route forms a rough loop from the Amsterdam Viking Club, weaving through the surrounding fields and villages.
One of the race’s most iconic features is the second portage, where paddlers must drive their boats straight out of the water and onto a bed of cut reeds. The British team took time on Friday to practise this unusual obstacle, quickly discovering that a fast and committed approach is the key to success.
The British women and girls were first onto the water, setting off alongside the veteran categories in calm, favourable conditions. A fierce battle unfolded at the front of the junior girls’ race, with Kyla Holt (Richmond Canoe Club) locked in a head‑to‑head duel with Italian competitor, Elisa Cardella. After a hard‑fought final sprint, Kyla secured an excellent silver medal, narrowly missing out on the win. Ruth Shephard (Reading Canoe Club) finished in fifth and Molly Bates (Richmond Canoe Club) in sixth.
A similar storyline played out in the junior boys’ race. Will Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) went stroke‑for‑stroke with Italy’s Candela, an athlete with a strong international pedigree, all the way to the line. Will claimed a superb silver, with teammate Marcel Nagy (Reading Canoe Club) delivering a powerful final third of the race to take bronze, completing a double podium for Great Britain. Benjamin Eskriett (Gailey Canoe Club) finished in fifth, and Tyler Kinder (Reading Canoe Club) in sixth. The under-16 athletes Doogal Barnett (Reading Canoe Club) finished in eighth and Edward Stroud (Wey Kayak Club) in twelfth.
Across all categories, the British athletes demonstrated exceptional adaptability and boat handling on a course that demands constant tactical and technical adjustment. The under‑23 paddlers provided excellent role-modelling throughout the trip, setting a great example for the junior athletes both on and off the water and achieving strong results in tough fields. Lochlain Lovell (Worcester Canoe Club) finished in ninth, Cassian Payne (Chelmsford Canoe Club) in twenty-first and Sienna Payne (Chelmsford Canoe Club) achieved seventh in the senior women’s race.
After racing, the team enjoyed an evening walk through central Amsterdam, a chance to stretch tired legs and celebrate a successful day before the long journey home.
Special thanks go to the volunteer staff team of Brian, Tom, Estelle, and Tim, whose work made the trip possible.
In addition to the selected development squad, several British paddlers travelled independently to compete. James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) continued his outstanding form, securing his third consecutive victory at the Waterlands Marathon, confirming his strength against other world-class athletes.
Official results for all categories can be found on the event website here.
Assessment races for the European Championships and Sanabria K4 are being held on Saturday 2nd May in Nottingham, Sunday 3rd May at Short Course Nationals in Manvers, and Saturday 23rd May at Elmbridge Canoe Club. Results from these events will be used to select the teams. Selection will be announced following the assessment race on 23rd May.
For full information on the selection process, please see the selection policy published on the website here.
To be considered for selection athletes must complete an availability form by 22:00 on 30th April. This can be accessed here.
Entries and details for races available on the marathon racing entry site here.
The 2026 National Short Course Championships are taking place on Sunday 3rd May and we need you to help make it happen.
This event brings together paddlers, supporters, and clubs from across the country for an enjoyable and high energy day of racing. But behind every great championship is a team of dedicated volunteers who keep everything running smoothly. Whether you’re a seasoned event volunteer (national events or local club events) or completely new to volunteering, your contribution will make a real difference to ensure this event is the best it can possibly be.
So, why should you volunteer?
Be part of a major national event in canoe marathon
Support athletes as they take on one of the most exciting and newest format in marathon racing
Enjoy a fun, friendly atmosphere with fellow paddlers and supporters
Give back to the community that keeps our sport thriving – canoe marathon is entirely run and organised by volunteers so we rely on other volunteers to help too!
We’re looking for volunteers to help with:
Course marshalling
Boat driving (qualification required)
Check‑in and race control
Boat control
Time keeping
Commentary
Media support
Trophy presentation support
Car parking and/or general site management support
Set-up and pack-down
First aider
No previous experience is required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in. You will be supported and guided by experienced volunteers in any role you are allocated to. The more volunteers we get, the more support every volunteer will have and the less time each volunteer will have to commit to (so more time to enjoy the racing too!).
If you can spare even just a few hours and want to support this amazing discipline and community, please fill out the volunteer form here.
Thank you for helping us deliver a fantastic championship. Events like this simply wouldn’t happen without the support of volunteers, and the Marathon Racing Committee are incredibly grateful for every person who steps forward.
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