News

News

National Short Course Marathon Championships 2025 – Early Bird Entries are now open!

   22 March 2025    Athletes, National, Racing

The Marathon Racing Committee are super excited to announce that early bird entries are now open for the 2025 edition of Short Course Nationals on the 4th May in Peterborough. Coming into it’s fourth year of running, Short Course Nationals presents an action-packed day of tight, thrilling racing.

Enter now to get a discounted entry fee before standard entries open on April 1st via our entries site here.

International entries are welcome as well as all national paddlers. We have races in senior, junior, veteran and para categories.

If you are coming to support a family member on the day, why not volunteer to help us run the event? Any size contribution is appreciated to support the event being run as efficiently as possible. Please volunteer via our sign-up form here.

2025 German Nationals Availability Form

   16 March 2025    Athlete Development, Athletes, Racing, Selection

On Saturday 29th March, Norwich Canoe Club are hosting the first assessment of 2025 season. This race is the lead assessment for the Junior and U23 Development trip to the German Nationals. It will also be used as supporting evidence for future selections where further data is required. We recommend that all athletes seeking international selections in the 2025 season attend this first race.

A link to the race entry can be found here: Norwich Assessment Race Entry

For those seeking selection for the German Nationals, please note the following:

  • All athletes seeking selection, even those who were preselected for the French Nationals in 2024, must confirm their availability by completing this form by 22:00 on the 27th March
  • The form can be found here: German Nationals Availability Form
  • If there no form, athletes will be assumed to be not available.
  • All athletes seeking selection must race the assessment race on the 29th March, even those who were pre-selected for the French Nationals in 2024.
  • If there are spare places from pre-selected athletes not taking up their place, these places will be offered to U18 & U23 athletes
  • The selections will be done by benchmarking across the classes, but will also be informed by the logistics constraints of the pre-booked trip

If you have any further question about the selection process, please refer to the 2025 Selection policy found here. If you still have any questions, please contact the chair of the Selection Committee, Nanette North: [email protected]

Seeking Volunteers – Short Course Nationals 2025

   9 March 2025    National, Volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to help us run the National Short Course Marathon Championships 2025 on Sunday 4th May. Whether it’s helping with set-up on the Saturday or marshalling during the racing or even commentary, we need your help to make this amazing event even better. There are roles to suit everyone and every different time commitment.

If you are interested in volunteering even a little amount of time over the weekend, fill in the below form and the Short Course Nationals Race Leads will be in contact in due course. Thank you for helping us to make this discipline even better!

Partnership Renewal with Precision Fuel & Hydration for the 2025 season

   9 March 2025    Athletes, Coaching, International

The Marathon Racing Committee is delighted to announce that our partnership with Precision Fuel & Hydration has been renewed for another season. Using cutting-edge tools and products to help athletes nail their hydration and fuelling strategy for training and racing, Precision Fuel & Hydration offers support to our international athletes so they can reach their optimum performance.

For more information on how the partnership works, please visit our Sponsorships and Partnerships website page.

If you are a company or organisation who are willing to offer support to a small, non-olympic sport with a dedicated and supportive community, please contact our Treasurer here to start a conversation with us.

All athletes eligible for support should have received an email containing a sign-up form. If you believe you are eligible and not received this, please contact Holly Mobbs here.

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.

Flatwater Technique Workshops

   22 February 2025    Coaching

The England Talent Programme is offering clubs the opportunity to host a forward paddling technique workshop. The workshop is run and delivered by Scott Hynds, our Flatwater Coach Developer 

The workshop will cover all aspects of forward paddling technique and will provide coaches the opportunity to understand in person the more intricate parts. Moreover, the in person experience seeks to build upon the three technique guides that were released last year and provide an opportunity for discussion and questions from those in attendance. 

If your club is interested in hosting a forward paddling technique workshop, please contact Scott Hynds directly at [email protected].

UPDATE: 2025 Key Marathon Dates

   5 February 2025    National, Racing

Due to reasons completely out of Worcester Canoe Club’s control, the original published date for the 2025 Hasler Finals has had to be moved to the 5th October.

Please update your personal calendars as well as any club calendars used. We look forward to seeing lots of competitive racing from qualified clubs and paddlers on the new date.

Seeking Volunteer for International Trips 2025

   22 January 2025    Coaching, International, Volunteers

The Marathon Racing Committee are seeking volunteer staff to support the GB team at its international races this year.

It’s a fun, rewarding but tiring few days travelling with our best athletes, helping them achieve their best possible results. You will be an integral part of the team and help out in a variety of ways potentially including driving, general organising, drinks changes at portages, emotional support, and safeguarding. Teams will be led by an experienced manager so new staff will be well supported and all forms of experience are welcome to volunteer. All expenses are paid, and team kit is provided.

We are looking for support staff for the following international trips in the 2025 season:

  • German National Marathon Championships – Kassel – 16-18th May
  • European Marathon Championships – Ponte-de-Lima, Portugal – 2nd-8th June
  • World Marathon Championships – Gyor, Hungary – 1st-7th September
  • French National Marathon Championships – Vernon – 27th-28th September

Travel will be around the advertised dates of the championships.

Please find further details and sign up below:

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