For the first time in two years, canoe racing came back to the Stort. Although the total number of competitors was somewhat reduced at 109, the presence of a loyal core of top-class paddlers ensured that the standard was as high as ever.
 | On the 7 mile course highlights included Kerstin partnered by Catherine Ayling taking the medals for first ladies crew in the K2 race in a time of 1:09:59 - tantalisingly close to the Ladies' course record of 1:09:20 set in 2015 by Ella Beatty & Maia Wallace-Loizou. The pair were 11th overall out of 21 boats. The Mens Vet race was also popular, with 16 competitors - Dave H. was the fastest UltraVet. On the 5 mile course Catherine R won the first Paddleability medal in the ladies race, and Eilidh won gold in Girls u16. Jack G was Stortford's fastest paddler over this distance. |
On the 3-mile course Eddie unfortunately capsized within a few paddlestrokes of the start line following a collision with another paddler and it took some time before he could climb back into his boat and continue the race. Nevertheless, he managed to regain enough time to win a bronze medal in u14M. Libby and Emilie won the girls gold and silver u12 medals, while Jasper and Rupert won the boys silver and bronze medals.
| 7 miles (6 portages): Senior K2 - Chris Sze & Mark Adams 9th (1:06:26), Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling 11th (1:09), Jamie Gaulton & Jamie McAdam 15th (1:17:02) Senior K1 - Adam Beaumont 5th (1:06:05 including 10m penalty) Vet Mens K1 - Dave Hallam 5th (1:12:05), Mike Toomey 9th (1:16:58), Jaroslav Klumpler 15th (1:30:46), Ben Tubby 16th (1:33:34) |  |
5 miles (3 portages):
u16 Boys K1 - Jack Gaulton 5th (58:48)
Ladies K1 - Karen Bradley 4th (1:07:50), Christine Meula 6th (1:11:50), Catherine Robinson 7th (1:24:51)
u16 Girls K1 - Eilidh White 1st (1:05:40)
u16 Boys K1 - Jack Gaulton 5th (58:48)
Ladies K1 - Karen Bradley 4th (1:07:50), Christine Meula 6th (1:11:50), Catherine Robinson 7th (1:24:51)
u16 Girls K1 - Eilidh White 1st (1:05:40)
3 miles (1 portage):
u14 Boys K1 - Edward Kirtland 3rd (33:16), Ewan Gowing 5th (35:09), Finlay Sandall 6th (38:22), Oliver Klumpler 8th (40:59)
u14 Girls K1 - Madeja Zuzanna 5th (46:39)
u12 K1 - Libby Gaulton 2nd (35:53), Jasper Kirtland 3rd (36:58), Rupert Kirtland 4th (48:03), Nadim Shawky 5th (49:31), Emilie Klumpler (50:30)
u14 Boys K1 - Edward Kirtland 3rd (33:16), Ewan Gowing 5th (35:09), Finlay Sandall 6th (38:22), Oliver Klumpler 8th (40:59)
u14 Girls K1 - Madeja Zuzanna 5th (46:39)
u12 K1 - Libby Gaulton 2nd (35:53), Jasper Kirtland 3rd (36:58), Rupert Kirtland 4th (48:03), Nadim Shawky 5th (49:31), Emilie Klumpler (50:30)
 | A good turnout of ten novice juniors in the u12s, u14s and u16s together accrued 74 points, putting BSCC in pole position in the Dick Grieve league. Two of these - Zuzanna and Nadeem - were racing for the first time. Competitors were drawn from eleven clubs. Stortford came second overall (119 points), behind Chelmsford (210) and ahead of Leighton Buzzard (83). Full race results are on the FRA website. See photos of the Stortford race in Angela's Flickr album |
Big thanks are due to members, past members, family and friends who turned out to help with the race - as marshals, safety boats, car park marshals, and to work on the BBQ and refreshments, as well as the racers who helped with the setting up and tidying up - and not forgetting all those who made cakes for sale.
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