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 high temperatures did not stop everyone from giving their best. A total of 12 medals were achieved in the divisional races: one bronze (Malcolm), four silvers (Ricky, Eugene, James S. & Euan) and a whopping seven golds (Kerstin & Jenny, Adam & David, Matt, and Neil & Connor). |
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.
| Although it was evident, even before this race, that the club's earlier successes in the season (especially the win at Chelmsford Hasler and the second place at Norwich) had secured our place in the Hasler finals, nobody had dared to dream that we would finish at the top of the Eastern Region league - albeit jointly with last year's national champions Chelmsford. |  |
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.
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DOUBLES -
19km, 8 portages
Div 3: David Gurney & Adam Beaumont 1st (1:27:22), Euan Caton & James Smythe 2nd (1:27:40)
11.5km, 6 portages
Div 4: Octavia Abbott & Tim Beaver 5th (1:08:48)
Div 5: Mike Panrucker & Ian Abrams 5th (1:11:26)
Div 6: Connor Higgins & Neil Boast 1st (1:08:55)
6.5km, 2 portages
Div 8: Kerstin Queeney & Jennifer Burtwell 1st (49:48), Jacque Cayford & Dave Cayford 4th (53:12)
Div 9: Catherine Robinson & Fifi Dunphy 4th (1:09:19)
19km, 8 portages
Div 3: David Gurney & Adam Beaumont 1st (1:27:22), Euan Caton & James Smythe 2nd (1:27:40)
11.5km, 6 portages
Div 4: Octavia Abbott & Tim Beaver 5th (1:08:48)
Div 5: Mike Panrucker & Ian Abrams 5th (1:11:26)
Div 6: Connor Higgins & Neil Boast 1st (1:08:55)
6.5km, 2 portages
Div 8: Kerstin Queeney & Jennifer Burtwell 1st (49:48), Jacque Cayford & Dave Cayford 4th (53:12)
Div 9: Catherine Robinson & Fifi Dunphy 4th (1:09:19)
| SINGLES - 19km, 8 portages Div 2: Matt Parkes 1st (1:28:24) Div 3: Josh Young (rtd) 11.5km, 6 portages Div 5: Ricky White 2nd (1:11:12), Mike Toomey 4th (1:11:44), Kevin Warbrick 5th (1:12:37) Div 6: Eugene Kokorin 2nd (1:17:10), Ant Wright (1:32:13) 6.5km, 2 portages Div 7: Malcolm Duckworth 3rd (49:18), Melanie Bennett 12th (52:42) Div 9: Eilidh White 9th (59:45), Jacob Gazey 15th (1:01:49), Jamie Gaulton 16th (1:7:15), Kayleigh Gaulton 19th (1:13:05) |  |
| LIGHTNINGS 2.5km u12 Boys: Jack Gaulton 5th (20:21), Leo Ranade 8th (21:45) u12 Girls: Gemma Beazley 5th (21:11), Alice Boylan 8th (23:58) u10 Boys: Jamie Winstanley 5th (35:18) u10 Girls: Libby Gaulton 2nd (23:04), Elizabeth Boylan 3rd (27:00) See
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