| After a couple of weeks of extremely cold temperatures which saw many rivers around the region iced up, there was a risk that the race might have to be postponed. However, slightly warmer temperatures and rain in the days leading up to the race cleared the ice from the River Can which runs through Chelmsford, and there was sufficient flow to ensure that even sub-zero temperatures on Saturday night did not cause it to re-freeze. As a safety precaution the courses had each been modified to a larger number of shorter loops, with total race distances also being slightly reduced on each of three courses. |
| A total of eighty-nine competitors took part, some travelling from considerable distances. 7 miles: K2 16+ Mixed - Ben Tubby & Kerry Tubby 1st (1:04:10) K2 16+ Ladies - Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Shirley [EAL] 2nd (1:03:38) 4 miles: C1 Advanced - Petr Luksan 2nd (52:09) 2.5 miles: K1 u12 Girls - Summer Norford 2nd (36:21) Despite Stortford's two golds and three silver medals, having only five club members taking part had an inevitable impact on the total team score (47), and the Stortford paddlers had to settle for overall 4th place. |