Nine Stortford paddlers competed at the fifth race of the Winter Series in mild and sunny conditions. As this was last race, there were also end of series trophies in addition to those won on the day.

This has very much been Octavia's season. She rounded off the series with another win, to make a total of three wins and one second place, making her the series class winner of the Ladies class, and she also remains the holder of the Ladies Vet trophy for the 3rd successive year.

On the 7-mile course, David G and Adam both put in excellent races against a high standard of competition to take gold and silver in their respective classes.

Eilidh and Catherine took on the junior K2 class this year and have not missed a race throughout the series - this paid off with a second place series award. Similarly, solid scoring across four races brought a third place series award for Jamie G in u14 Boys, in addition to the bronze medal won on the day.

The size of the Stortford teams have been much reduced this season, and as a result we finished in third position overall, behind Chelmsford CC (1st) and Leighton Buzzard CC. We finished 5th in the Dick Grieve league (points scored by novice juniors) and in 3rd place for the Bob Porter trophy (for participation by u12s).

See Angela's Flickr page for some photos of the Leaside race.

5 miles:
u16 Boys K1 - Connor Higgins 5th (51:51)
Ladies K1 - Octavia Abbott 1st (48:40)
u16 K2 - Eilidh White & Catherine Robinson 6th (1:02:33)

3 miles:
u14 Boys K1 - Jamie Gaulton 5th (26:43)
u12 - Jack Gaulton 7th (29:43)

With two races still to go, BSCC is standing 3rd in the Winter Series league table. Full race results and individual series positions can be found on the FRA website.

For the second time this Winter Series, the Stortford team numbered only a dozen competitors, but some good individual performances secured a third place for the club.

Euan took Stortford's only gold medal of the day - his second win in u18 boys this series, placing him third overall in the class to date, but a strong contender for the class trophy.

Adam & David continue at the top of the class table in Senior K2, having won bronze at this race, and Dave H is joint first in Vet Men's K1.

The club was third in the  Dick Grieve league  - this is based solely on the performance of novice juniors - all of Stortford's points DG points being won by the Gaulton family!

Full race results on the FRA website, including class standings to date. See photos of the Stortford race in Angela's Flickr album

We had excellent weather for the start of the new Winter Series, hosted at our own club as usual. The 127 competitors included a large field of senior K2s on the long course (19 boats) and a good turn out of u12 K1s on the short course (16 entries).

On the long course, Euan won gold in the u18 Mens K1. Adam B & David G were narrowly beaten into second place in senior K2 by less than a minute, despite an excellent performance. Dave H won silver in the Mens Vet race.

On the middle distance, Octavia took gold in the Ladies K1, and Kerstin was the first SuperVet. On the short course Jamie G won the silver medal in u14 Boys and brother Jack did well in u12s, coming 7th.

​7 miles (6 portages):
Senior K2 - Adam Beaumont & David Gurney 2nd (57:22), Tim Beaver & Neil Boast 7th (1:10:02), Ian Abrams & Gordon Bullock BAD 9th (1:10:20), Jacque & Dave Cayford 17th (1:22:20)
Vet Mens K1 - Dave Hallam 2nd (1:05:25), Mike Toomey 7th (1:11:46)
u18 Boys K1 - Euan Caton 1st (1:02:44), Murdo White 6th (1:33:58), James Daly 7th (1:33:59)

​5 miles (3 portages):
u16 Boys K1 - Connor Higgins 5th (54:05)
Ladies K1 - Octavia Abbott 1st (53:39), Kerstin Queeney 4th (56:08)
u16 K2 - Eilidh White & Catherine Robinson 3rd (1:12:35)

​3 miles (1 portage):
u14 Boys K1 - Jamie Gaulton 2nd (33:02)
GP - Mick Hussey 3rd (42:29)
u12 K1 - Jack Gaulton 7th (38:16),  Gemma Beazley 9th (41:41), Edward Kirtland 12th (45:35), Killian O'Dwyer 14th (45:41), Libby Gaulton (retired)

Ten clubs were represented. Stortford came second overall, behind Chelmsford and ahead of Leighton Buzzard. We were also second on Dick Grieve points (based on performance by novice juniors only).

Full race results on the FRA website. See photos of the Stortford race in Angela's Flickr album

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.