Please find details below of Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club’s 2022 Remembrance Day Marathon. This will be held on Sunday 13 November, starting at Great Linford Memorial Hall, Great Linford, Milton Keynes and finishing at Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club.
Team of 12 and 4 staff went to French Nationals over the third weekend of September. Departing Elmbridge through Eurotunnel, overnighting at Rouen, then taking the long drive to the venue at Le Temple Sur Lot. The team stayed in La Base, which is a sports training venue that will also be a training venue for the Paris Olympics 2024
Racing started promptly at 10am Saturday morning with the K2 racing. Our athletes ‘race up’ meaning they are racing other athletes up to 2 years older than them.
The first races of the day were the cadet (U16) category with Dianora De Billio (Royal), Charlotte Fulford-Perez (Reading), Ethan Hunt (Fowey) and Oli Mazur (Reading).
Ethan and Oli were in a field of 21 boats where they needed to complete 4 long laps, 1 short lap and 3 portages. After a poor start, they found their way into the middle group and gradually dropped boats through the portages. Lots of the local crews were giving them a hard time trying to force them the wrong way around buoys but they managed to work up to 8th place, 3 minutes behind the winner.
The girls race consisted of 4 long laps, 1 short lap and 3 portages as well. Dianora and Charlotte found themselves doing a lot of chasing in the beginning and managed to work their way to the front. In the final sprint, they broke away and took the win.
In the afternoon, we saw the older athletes racing in the U18 class. The boys course consisted of 6 long laps, 1 short lap and 5 portages. In a small but strong field, the lead French boat broke away with the boys chasing hard but unable to catch. Andre Hinves (Southampton) and Trishan Bhooha (Richmond) managed to take 2nd, 6 mins behind an extremely strong boat, and Ali Kabeer (Wokingham)/Harry Sewell-Catchpole (Norwich) having a string steady race ending 4th.
The girls competed over 5 long laps, 1 short lap and 4 portages. Hannah Toovey (Glasgow), who is still 14, raced up with Sienna Payne (Chelmsford) and found themselves breaking away at the start by themselves, chasing but not catching the faster mixed crew who started on the same start line. Chloe Ritchie (Wey) and Beth Perry (Southampton) didn’t get as good of a start but chased hard, finishing in 2nd.
Sunday meant K1 racing for our juniors. The day started early at 0900, weather distinctly cool, but the water warm.
Out Cadet (U16 boys) competed over 4 long laps, 1 short lap and 4 portages. With a massive class of over 50 boats Oli and Ethan had their work cut out for them. Oli managed an impressive 6th, 3 mins behind the winner, and Ethan 8th, only 10 seconds behind Oli.
The girls start was smaller but still with 25 boats. Dianora came 1st with Hannah 2nd. Charlotte had an unfortunate portage catching the pontoon with the tip of her boat, capsizing her. She managed to pull through to take 7th but only a couple of minutes behind Hannah in 2nd.
In the afternoon, our U18 juniors took the to water over slightly longer courses. In a field of 28 boats, Andre had a good start, getting away with the lead group. Trishan portaged with panache and looked as fresh at the last portage as the first, eventually chasing down and catching Andre metres before the finish. Although Andre tried to pick up the pace, he was too exhausted, and Trishan managed to pip him to the post to take 4th place.. Andre finished seconds later in 5th. Harry had a good solid race finishing 6th, 3 mins later. Ali raced well until he had a capsize and lost quite a lot of time getting back into his boat. He rounded off the weekend with a 15th place.
Our girls had a smaller field of 13 boats, but some good paddlers. Sienna had a good race, but was unable to catch the leaders finishing 3rd. Beth finished 5th, and Chloe 9th
It’s really hard to keep track of individual performances when they are all on the water together mixed in with other classes but all the athletes did exceptionally well.
Their parents should know that they all behaved very well, although there was a moment of fright when you get the call that there is a small problem, only to discover that actually it’s just a key lost down a lift shaft!!!!
My great thanks to my team of Colette, Elizabeth, and Graham, without which the trip would not have been possible, and to the team of juniors who made the event such a good experience.
Dave Sackman
Team Leader
The Marathon Racing Committee is looking to sell a Vajda K2 L & a Vajda K2 ML, including a boat bag. Both boats have competed at international competitions in previous years.
The process will be via sealed bids. The boats are currently at Reading Canoe Club and can be seen via appointment.
In the event of…
The MRC, SRC and BC Talent Department are excited to announce that sign-up for the first JDS day of the 22/23 Winter Series opens today.
For all information about the day and details on how sign up, please click here.
The eligibility criteria for Kayak paddlers is as follows:
The eligibility criteria for Canoe paddlers is as follows:
Additionally, coaches who are working with athletes in any discipline who have not met the criteria above, can put forward athletes they believe would benefit from the day. To do this, please contact Charlie Barwis or Holly Mobbs.
The JDS is also aimed at coaches seeking to develop their knowledge and engage with like-minded coaches. Coaches can be from clubs with paddlers in attendance, or from clubs which don’t, what’s key though is a desire to learn, engage and share ideas. Please register your interest in attending via the coaching page.
We look forward to seeing lots of juniors and coaches there.
The MRC was saddened to learn of the passing of David Green. Amongst his many roles, David was Secretary of the Marathon Committee in the 1980’s, acting as Chair from 2000 to 2003, and was President of Exeter Canoe Club. His influence can be seen throughout our sport – from his significant involvement in the early days of marathon racing, joining the Long Distance Racing Committee in 1958 and serving in various roles including National Coach and International Secretary; to the innovative design and development of modern racing boats at Kirton Kayaks. However, perhaps most importantly, his legacy will live on through the time and energy he gave to many, many paddlers over the years, who all owe him a great debt. A tribute to David from British Canoeing can be found here, and from Kirton Kayaks here. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
An updated version of the Online Entry & RacMan Help Sheet can be found below and on the Race Organiser’s Pack page.
It has been reorganised into three sections for paddlers, team leaders and race organisers/clubs.
Following the release of the government’s National Mourning Guidance and advice from key stakeholders, please find here the British Canoeing guidance for events held during this time.
The 2022 British Canoeing Paddlesport Coaching and Leadership Conference is taking place at Eastwood Hall, Nottingham on 19/20 November.
To book your place please follow this link – note the early bird booking closes on Friday 9 September.
Following the Marathon National Championships in Worcester on the 27/28 August, the MRC Selection Committee has announced the team to represent British Canoeing at the World Championships 2022 in Ponte de Lima. Congratulations to all selected.
Please find the team announcement and the assessment data here :
Following the Marathon National Championships in Worcester on the 27/28 August, the MRC Selection Committee has chosen a team to represent British Canoeing at the French National Championships. Congratulations to all.
