“Choppy” was the main word on everyone’s lips after the final race of the Winter Series. A much reduced BSCC team paddled in what turned out to be delightful weather for the time of year; however, the river Can was at turns very wavy and very shallow, leading to more than one unexpected dip for our paddlers.

On the 8-mile course, the best results for the club came from Kerstin and Catherine who took gold in the K2 16+ women’s race. Kerry and Chris made for a successful pairing in the K2 16+ mixed doubles race, coming in 3rd place, whilst Jacque and Dave also battled through this race, taking the first Ultra-vets medal.

Rupert also took 4th place in the u12s boys race – as the only unranked junior competing for the club it fell to him to score the only Dick Grieve points for BSCC.

8 miles:
K2 16+ Mixed - Chris Sze & Kerry Tubby 3rd (1:11:49), Jacque & Dave Cayford 7th (1:20:09)
K2 16+ Ladies - Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling (EAL) 1st (1:08:43)
K1 Sen Men - Joao Spinola 4th (1:08:13)
K1 Sen Ladies - Megan Kenny (EXE) 2nd (1:14:09)
K1 u18 Ladies - Eilidh White 2nd (1:23:12)

5 miles:
K1 SuperVet Men - Ben Tubby 2nd (48:05), Robin Dromard 7th (1:02:16)
K1 u16 Boys - Eddie Kirtland 2nd (45:34)

3 miles:
K1 u14 Boys - Jasper Kirtland 4th (27:16)
C1 Novice - Petr Luksan 1st (30:36)
K1 u12 Boys - Rupert Kirtland 4th (32:43)

Full race & series results are on the FRA website.

See Angela's Google album for some photos of the Chelmsford race & awards.

BSCC SERIES RESULTS:
Libby Gaulton - winner u14 Girls Trophy
Petr Luksan - winner C1 Novice Trophy
Megan Kenny (for EXE) - 2nd in Senior Ladies
Jack Gaulton - 2nd place in u18 Men
Eilidh White - 2nd place in u18 Ladies
Eddie Kirtland - 2nd place in u16 Boys
Rupert Kirtland - 2nd place in u12 Boys
Oliver Klumpler & Finlay Sandall - 2nd place in u16 K2
Ben Tubby - 3rd place in SuperVet Men
Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling (EAL) - 3rd place in Ladies K2
Jasper Kirtland - 4th place in u14 Boys
Joao Spinola - 5th in K1Senior Men

BSCC were second overall in the series (which was won by Chelmsford CC).

The contest for the Dick Grieve Trophy (based on points scored by unranked juniors), went right up to line. Leighton Buzzard CC and Cambridge CC were tied for first place, with the winner (Buzzard) being decided by the number of overall wins. Just one point behind, BSCC and Chelmsford CC tied for third place. We were also third in the Bob Porter Trophy (for level of participation by u12s).

One particular highlight of the day was an award for Angela Aldam, who has been helping to organise the Winter Series for nearly 20 years - she was presented with an engraved vase and some flowers to mark her 100th race and to thank her for all of her hard work over the years.

Mark, paddling in the Men’s K2 race with Steve Tingay of Leighton Buzzard, donned an LBZ vest to pay homage Steve’s mother - a long held wish of hers finally fulfilled.

Other Stortford paddlers at this distance were Joao in the Senior Men’s K1, Jaroslav in the Vet Men’s race and Megan in Senior Women (for Exeter CC).

8 miles (2 portages):
K2 16+ Men - Mark Adams & Steve Tingay [LBZ] 5th (1:18:17)
K2 16+ Mixed - Chris Sze & Kerry Tubby 4th (1:21:22), Jacqueline Cayford & Dave Cayford 8th (1:28:48)
K2 16+ Women - Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling [EAL] 1st (1:18:17)
K1 Sen Men - Joao Spinola 7th (1:19:11)
K1 Sen Women - Megan Kenny [EXE] 2nd (1:22:20)
K1 Vet Men - Jaroslav Klumpler 8th (1:27:18)
K1 Vet Women - Karen Bradley 1st (1:35:05)
K1 u18 Men - Jack Gaulton 2nd (1:28:02)

Fifteen BSCC paddlers braved the elements for a particularly grim Winter Series race in Cambridge. The cold and wet weather added a certain frisson to the already muddy portages, on which many of the races were won or lost! 

The club's best results on the 7-mile course came from Jack, who won silver with a spirited performance in the Under-18 Boy’s race. Daniel also put in a fantastic performance, coming 5th in the same race, his first time competing at this distance, and this in an unfamiliar boat, with a borrowed paddle.

Ben and Kerry took on the K2 16+ mixed doubles, but an unfortunate capsize put them in 5th place.

Other paddlers competing at this distance were Karen and Christine who were second in the K2 16+ Women’s race – although they led for much of the race, an especially difficult portage put them just behind the eventual winners.

Eilidh was third in a challenging Under-18s Girl’s race. Jaroslav enjoyed his first Winter Series race this season, wading through the mud at the portages and coming 7th in the Vet men’s race.

7 miles (4 portages):
K2 16+ Mixed - Ben & Kerry Tubby 5th (1:18:32)
K2 16+ Ladies - Karen Bradley & Christine Meula 2nd (1:30:17)
K1 Vet Men - Jaroslav Klumpler 7th (1:23:59)
K1 u18 Men - Jack Gaulton 2nd (1:23:40), Daniel Baines 5th (1:35:34)
K1 u18 Ladies - Eilidh White 3rd (1:30:05)

On the 5-mile course it was Eddie who shone, winning silver in the Under-16 Boys, whilst Finlay and Oliver struggled to a very hard-earned silver in the Under-16 K2s race. 

Thirteen BSCC paddlers made the journey down to Kent to be part of the first ever Winter Series race hosted by Maidstone Canoe Club.

The club's best results on the 9-mile course came from Joe & Eddie who won silver in the men's doubles race.

Aaron and Rupert not only won significant points for the club but brought us to second place on Dick Grieve points (based on the performance of unranked juniors).

While Chelmsford were the overall winners of the event, Stortford came second, and Barking third.

See

• Full race results (FRA website)
  
• League table 
• Photos (Angela's Google album)
  

In total Stortford had a team of 26. It was lovely to see Megan back paddling with us again though, under rule that comes with bringing the race under the MRC, she was obliged to paddle for her official club of Exeter.

While concern about the river conditions may have put off a few of the younger juniors that we would normally expect, numbers were more than made up by the return of Veteran/SuperVet Men at a level seen since the pandemic. Over-50s now have the option of entering M/F "SuperVets" classes on the 5 mile course, but this still left a field of 14 for the 7-mile Veteran Men's race. Rich reprised last year's success to take Gold in Vet Men, while Ben did the same in the SuperVet M.

7 miles (6 portages):
K2 16+ Ladies - Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling [EAL] 1st (1:10:18), Octavia Abbott & Kerry Tubby 2nd (1:11:50), Karen Bradley & Christine Meula 5th (1:21:53)
K1 Senior Men - Joao Spinola 5th (1:12:44), Jamie Bond 7th (1:40:30), David Gurney (rtd)
K1 Senior Ladies - Megan Kenny [EXE] 1st (1:16:06)
K1 Veteran Men - Rich Winstanley 1st (1:01:12)
K1 Veteran Ladies - Kat Wilson 1st (1:03:15)
K1 u18 Ladies - Eilidh White 2nd (1:26:21)

5 miles (4 portages):
K1 SuperVet Men - Ben Tubby 1st (45:45), Mark Adams 2nd (47:28), Robin Dromard 8th (1:06:54)
K2 u16 - Oliver Klumpler & Finlay Sandall 3rd (1:03:46)
K1 u16 Boys - Eddie Kirtland 2nd (47:28), Jacob Chan 7th (1:12:21), Aaron Sandhu 8th (1:13:36)
K1 u16 Girls - Ananya Bhusari 6th (1:18:51)

approx 3 miles (2 portage):
K1 u14 Boys - Jasper Kirtland 4th (39:42), Jamie Winstanley 8th (47:11)
K1 u14 Girls - Libby Gaulton 1st (41:12)
C1 Novice - Petr Luksan 1st (42:53)
GP 16+ Men - Alex Scott 3rd (1:04:20)
K1 u12 Boys - Rupert Kirtland 4th (50:06)

The Mayor of Bishop's Stortford, Richard Townsend, kindly came along to give out the medals.

The club was second overall with 183 points, behind Chelmsford CC (338) but well ahead of Leighton Buzzard CC (125).

BSCC is also leading the Dick Grieve league, based on the performance of novice juniors only, thanks to the efforts of Jacob, Aaron, Ananya, Jasper, Jamie W, and Rupert.

Congratulations to Jamie B. and Jacob for successfully completing their first marathon races, and to Jamie W. on his return after a long absence.

See

• Full race results (FRA website)
• League table 
• Photos (Angela's Google album)
  

The Grand Union Canal had thawed, and the postponed Leighton Buzzard race was able to go ahead in bright sunshine. The small group of Stortford paddlers who have been coming to the Winter Races through the season were joined on the water for the first time this series by Joe Fitzpatrick.

Joe was paddling in Senior K1, which shared a start with the u18 M K1 class. This led to an exciting finish, which was won by Joe in 1:06:01, closely followed by Ali Kabeer (WOK, 1:06:03, 1st u18), and David Gurney (CLM, 1:06:04, 2nd Sen K1).

Stortford's Chris Sze also came to the race, having returned from his travels, paddling with Gordon Bullock for BAD. The pair put in an excellent performance to finish in second place in the Senior K2 race, just ahead of the BSF boat crewed by Kerstin and Maidstone's Catherine Ayling.  However, bronze position was still enough for Kerstin and Catherine to retain the Ladies K2 series trophy for the second successive season.

The day also brought silver medals for Eddie & Libby in the junior K2 race, Oliver in GP, and Emilie Klumpler (for Girls u12), and bronze medals for Jack (u16 M K1) and Eilidh (Ladies K1). Rupert won the medal for first u12.

BSCC SERIES RESULTS:
Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling - Ladies K2 Trophy
Eddie Kirtland & Libby Gaulton - Junior K2 Trophy
David Gurney (for CLM) - Senior K1 Trophy
Eilidh White - Ladies u18/Sen/Vet 2nd place
Oliver Klumpler - u15 M GP Trophy
Emilie Klumpler - u12 F K1 2nd place

BSCC were second overall in both the series (which was won by Chelmsford CC), and the Bob Porter Trophy (for the greatest participation by u12s). We were third in the Dick Grieve Trophy (based on points scored by unranked juniors).

A special "well done" should also go to Oliver and Emilie who have attended all the races this winter despite Oliver's health issues and Emilie being one of the youngest paddlers in the club. Petr too has not missed a race and deserves a special round of applause for taking up the challenge of racing a high kneeler C1 in winter time.

A sadly depleted team represented Stortford at the Chelmsford marathon on Sunday - it was left to just  six paddlers to try to sustain the reputation of the club.

Petr opted to enter the Vets race mistakenly thinking the course would not be suitable for high-kneel C1s, but nevertheless achieved an excellent 4th position.

Eilidh took silver in her class, and together with Oliver (1st Paddleabiity in GP) and Emilie (Gold as the 1st girl in u12 K1) the three scored enough points to bring Stortford a respectable 3rd place amongst the novice juniors.

Only a dozen competitors represented Stortford in the Cambridge Winter Series race.

Kerstin and Catherine achieved a very good time in the senior doubles race, coming 8th out of 24 boats. Jasper won a very well-deserved silver in the u12's race, and there were two further medals in that class for Emilie (girls' silver) and Rupert (first u10). Oliver continues to persevere in racing the essentially non-racing boats of the GP class, and also won a first Paddleability medal.

A special mention should also go to Petr who for the first time competed in high-kneeler C1 at an away race.

Heavy rain in the days leading up to the race forced a complete re-think of the parking arrangements, and as the rain continued on the day itself, created challenging conditions for everyone, especially the marshals and the volunteers manning the BBQ - but canoeists are not ones to be put off by a little water. Despite the downpour, race attendance was back up to pre-covid numbers. As well as 24 members of BSCC, the 130 competitors included teams from seven other clubs and independent paddlers drawn from at least three others.

Stortford's best results came from the Veteran Men's K1, in which Rich won gold for his impressive time of 1:02:42 and Chris took the medal for first "ultra-vet" (over 60).

Eilidh won bronze in the combined ladies class and was the club's fastest girl on the 5 miles course. In the u12s race, Jasper and Emilie each won bronze as third boy and third girl, and Rupert won the medal for first boy under 10. Oliver was awarded a first paddleability medal in the GP race.

Special mention should be made of Petr for successfully completing his first marathon race in C1.

7 miles (6 portages):
Senior K2 - Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling 13th (1:15:18), Jacque & Dave Cayford 17th (1:20:49)
Vet Mens K1 - Rich Winstanley 1st (1:02:42), Chris Sze 5th (1:10:22), Ben Tubby 10th (1:20:06)
u18 Boys K1 - Tom Barton 4th (1:22:03)

5 miles (3 portages):
u16 Boys K1 - Jack Gaulton 4th (56:36), Arthur Catmur 7th (1:01:27), Ewan Gowing 8th (1:05:02), Daniel Baines 9th 1:08:14
Ladies K1 - Eilidh White 3rd (1:05:54), Kayleigh Gaulton 4th (1:06:14), Karen Bradley 5th (1:06:38), Tamzin Catmur 6th (1:22:39)
u16 K2 - Eddie Kirtland & Libby Gaulton 1st (54:23)

The club was second overall with 114 points, behind Chelmsford CC (271) but comfortably ahead of Leighton Buzzard CC (73).

The club is also off to a good start in the Dick Grieve league, based on point scored by novice juniors, with Eilidh, Oliver, Arthur, Ewan, Daniel, Finlay, Ananya and Jasper all making significant contributions towards this.

See

• Full race results (FRA website)
• League table
• Photos by Amanda Roberts of P3T Photography
• A few more photos (Angela's Google album)
  

Although the race had been rescheduled at short notice (the original date being cancelled due to ice on the canal) most of Stortford's original team were able to get to the final race of the Winter Series, held at Leighton Buzzard.

Kerstin paired up with Catherine Ayling again for the K2 race on the long course and this time were able to secure silver medals. On the middle-distance course, Oliver & Finlay took silver in the junior K2 event,  Karen won bronze in the Ladies K1 race, and Eilidh bronze in u16 girls.

All three of Stortford's gold medals came on the short course, where Dave won the GP race, and Libby and Jasper came first and second respectively in the u12 race to win first girl and first boy. Also in u12s, Nadim and Emilie took silver as second boy and second girl. Meanwhile, Eddie came in a close second to Chelmsford's Cassian Payne in u14 Boys, but had to settle for the silver medal, while Ewan took bronze.

Many thanks to everyone who took part in this series - including the parents who have given up their Sundays to bring their children to the events and those who have driven the trailer.

See Angela's Flickr page for some photos of the Leighton Buzzard race and awards.