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.

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.

There was a decidedly cold breeze for the first race of the 2017-2018 Winter Series. This did not deter 145 paddlers from 12 different clubs from turning out for the race.

Although the BSCC team was quite small this year, this was partly because some were involved in the many marshalling and other volunteer activities necessary to run the race. Start/Finish marshals were Ron & Alison T, James Smythe, assisted by Zoe, Kira & Gemma B and Ollie Smythe. Turns were manned by Lynne C, Shane S, Fred, Ian A, Claire Baldwin, Maria W, Alan Pinnock, Jacob Gazey, Steve Whipp, Maria Sze, Ricky & Brian. Andrew G, David G and Will Rowe were on-water safety and sweepers. Seb was bike sweeper on the long course. Southmill portage helpers and marshals were Stewart, Adrian Holman, John Daly & Izzy Gurney & Matt P. The BBQ was run by Phil & Jo, Neil S, Brian, and Mel W. The other refreshments - including selling the cakes donated by members - were undertaken by Charlotte, Jan, Jacq, Kerstin, Jean Sewell, and Amelia & Isabelle S. Angela, Siobhan and Stewart dealt with booking in and results. Buoys were put out and brought back in by Matt P, Ricky, Mike P, Chris  & Ant. The car park and other jobs before and after racing were undertaken by Neil B, Malcolm, Dave H, Ricky, Chris, Mike T & Dave C. Advance preparations were made by Judith, Mitch, Jan, Andrew, Danny, and Matt Mills.

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. 

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.