Nine paddlers from Bishops Stortford competed in this annual prestige event. This year the Nationals were held at Reading, extending over two days, with the singles races on Saturday and the doubles on Sunday. Three members came home with the coveted Nationals members - bronzes for Danny, James S and Jamie W.

Competing in age/sex classes can bring together paddlers of very different rankings in the same race. Although they may not have won medals, Euan and Richard W can be especially proud of the fact that they were the fastest Div 4 paddler and UK Div 3 paddlers in their respective K1 races. David G also achieved an excellent time.

Kerstin (Div 9), in particular, put in a fantastic performance to finish hot on the heels of a number of Div 6 paddlers. Well done to everyone who took part.

Fantastic results for the Stortford team at our own Hasler race - despite everyone needing to double up as marshals etc when not actually racing.

The event attracted the biggest field of Lightnings this season, including quite a number from Stortford, several racing for the first time. In total there were 183 kayakers competing - unusually no canadians at all, though few leisure C2s passing through were a bit bemused to find themselves on the start line!

The combinations of doubles pairings worked well, and everything came together to deliver a home win. To cap it all off, it has now been announced that Neil and Connor are promoted to Division 5.

The National Marathon Championships are coming up, and then the National Hasler Finals. It really does feel, as Danny said, that "anything is achievable".

Big thanks are due to the army all the members, family, club members and paddlers from other clubs who turned out to help with all the preparations, and all the work on the day, including starts/finishes, on-water safety, towpath sweepers, turn marshals, catering, entries/results, car park, and a plethora of other jobs.

Super weather again for the Cheshunt Regatta at Herts Young Mariners Base. Stortford were one of seven clubs taking part, and the nine BSCC paddlers brought the total entries to 43 at this event.

Catherine, Libby, Noah and Connor also had a go at K4 racing.

Nine Stortford paddlers enjoyed some glorious sunshine at the Leaside Regatta. The medals were based on the results of the mornings sprinting over 500m and 200m. Lexi, James D and Jamie G also took part in the 3 km fun race after lunch.

Well done to Libby and Kayleigh for completing their first competition.

See the full regatta results on the FRA website.
Photos of the event can be found in Angela's Flickr album

Euan and Connor teamed up for this race and proved to be a most successful pairing. They finished a good 4 minutes ahead in the Div 6 doubles race, and as well as their trophies, Connor was also able to take home a promotion to Div 6.

Jacq & Dave took a well deserved third place in Div 8 doubles.

Jack and Jamie G had their first taste of Hasler racing. Eilidh moved up into Division 9, and Leo completed his first ever race.

The presentation of the medals for the day was followed by the end-of-season prize giving.

​5 miles:
u16 Boys K1 - David Gurney 3rd (47:03), Murdo White 7th (52:31), James Daly 8th (52:54), Connor Higgins (rtd)
Ladies K1 - Octavia Abbott 4th (47:36), Melanie Bennett 9th (54:56),  Catherine Robinson 15th (1:07:37)
u16 Girls - Emilia Boylan 2nd (54:02)
C2 - Paul Surrage & Richard Baker 3rd (54:07)

3 miles:
u14 Boys K1 - Jamie Gaulton 7th (29:55)
u12 K1 - Eilidh White 3rd (30:30), Jack Gaulton 10th (33:32)

Full race results on the FRA website. See photos of the Chelmsford race in Angela's Flickr album. 

Only 16 BSCC paddlers made it to the Barking Winter Series race, though this proved enough to secure a second place overall for the club. A good number of those who finished were rewarded with medals: Dave H, Connor, Octavia, Emilia and Eilidh all achieved  bronze in their respective classes, Kerstin was 1st lady supervet, Catherine was awarded ladies paddleability, while Danny won a gold.

The weather was not quite as cold as of late, but persistent drizzle added to the typically bleak appearance of the venue of the estury of the River Roding.

At this half-way point through the series, Danny, Octavia and Kerstin are all on track to be taking home a perpetual trophy at the finals, while Eilidh is locked in a battle with a Chelmsford rival for the Girls U12 cup. James, Connor, Murdo and Emilia each have a chance of winning one of the engraved series glasses.

On a bitterly cold day, a 26-strong team went over to Herts Young Mariners base for the second race of the Winter Series, and 8 were awarded medals.

Perhaps the two most notable were the pair of bronzes won by Matt P & David G in the senior K2 race. An excellent result against a large field (16 boats) of high-standard entries - especially considering it's the first time the two have raced together.