At just 24 paddlers, this was much the smallest team the club has put out for a regional Hasler for a while, and many of the regular faces were missing. The club countered this by making sure that there were plenty of doubles pairs and that those entering for the first time were in suitable divisions.
The extra planning paid off and the final score was better than the club had dared to hope, with the Stortford team the overall winners, beating Chelmsford CC (the reigning National Hasler champions) on their home turf.
A strong wind - the tail end of storm Brian - made the return leg of the race more of a battle than usual.
All the doubles pairs were rewarded with a podium position, and promotions to Div 7 have now come through for new members Luke & Will Jones. In singles there were further well-deserved promotions for Mitch and Will P, both taking part in their first Hasler races. Kerstin too was only 5s off the promotion time.
 | DOUBLES - 12 miles, 10 portages Div 2: James Smythe & Danny Beazley 2nd (1:26:19) 8 miles, 8 portages Div 4: Mike Panrucker & Alasdair Bruce 2nd (1:18:17) 3 miles, 2 portages Div 7: David Cayford & Melanie Bennett 2nd (34:03) Div 8: Luke Jones & Will Jones 1st (32:13) Div 9: Brian Owen & Siobhan Latham 1st (36:57) |
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| SINGLES - 12 miles, 10 portages Div 2: Matt Parkes 5th (1:30:46) Div 3: Dave Hallam 8th (1:34:46) 8 miles, 8 portages Div 5: Mike Toomey 6th (1:25:28) 3 miles, 2 portages Div 7: Malcolm Duckworth 6th (34:23), Connor Higgins 7th (34:28), Yazmin Layzell 16th (38:48) Div 8: Mitch Barclay 3rd (34:46), Jessica Gaynor 12th (44:02) Div 9: William Parr 4th (35:45), Kerstin Queeney 10th (37:35), Catherine Robinson 29th (47:48) |  |
| LIGHTNINGS 2km u10 Boys: Lewis Williams 3rd (22:37), Noah Weaving 4th (23:21) u10 Girls: Gemma Beazley 1st (23:33) See
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