Chelmer Hasler (19 Oct 2025)

Despite getting the exact same total score as last year (582) which was enough to take second place on that occasion, Norwich pipped us to the 2nd place spot with 584 and we were third. Still a very good result to go over the winter with and some very good performances throughout the team.

Daniel - one of this year's recruits to the club - was one of the team's stand-out performers. Daniel managed to manoeuvre his way to a good position on the Div 9 start line and was able to get away ahead of the pack. He was soon locked in a battle for first place with a Chelmsford paddler, which continued as they portaged over Barnes Mill Lock, turned at Sandford Lock and returned across Barnes Mill Lock. Daniel eventually managed to draw ahead and crossed the finish line as the winner, 19sec clear of his rival. Not only did Daniel win the trophy for first place but was also awarded a double promotion to Division 7. 

Daniel's daughter Stella was also in Div 9, racing for the first time and achieved a very creditable 11th place. Over the same course, there was an excellent performance from Rupert.

On the 8 mile course (8 portages), there were some great results from Stortford's doubles crews. Eddie & Robert won the Div 5, with Ben T & Kerry 4th. Jamie B & Kerstin took 2nd in Div 6. Joao's 6th place in the highly competitive Div 4 singles was also noteworthy, four of the paddlers ahead of him being promoted.

Those on the 12 mile course had to go all the way to Paper Mill with a total of 10 gruelling portages. In Div 3 doubles, Rich (Div 2) paired with Jasper (Div 4) to win. Meanwhile, in Div 3 singles, David G came second  and was rewarded with a well-deserved promotion to Div 2.

DOUBLES -
12 miles, 10 portages
Div 3: Jasper Kirtland & Richard Winstanley 1st (1:32:08)
8 miles, 8 portages
Div 5: Edward Kirtland & Robert Gouth 1st (1:19:53), Ben Tubby & Kerry Tubby 4th (1:20:38), Jamie Winstanley & Mark Adams 10th (1:28:35)
Div 6: Jamie Bond & Kerstin Queeney 2nd (1:26:03)
​3 miles, 2 portages
Div 7: Dave Cayford & Jacque Cayford 4th (33:38)

SINGLES -
12 miles, 10 portages
Div 3: David Gurney 2nd (1:32:38)
8 miles, 8 portages
Div 4: Joao Spinola 6th (1:16:54)
Div 6: Zoe Norford 10th (1:40:37), Karen Bradley 11th (1:40:43)
3 miles, 2 portages
Div 7: James Breeze 9th (35:49), Jack Law 10th (36:18)
Div 8: Rupert Kirtland 4th (35:41)
Div 9: Daniel Thompson 1st (34:06), Stella Thompson 11th (39:41)

Well done also to Summer, who won bronze in GS-A, and Benjamin S  who was 4th in GS-C in his first ever marathon race.

Under 14s (Geoff Sanders)
2km
GS-A: Summer Norford 3rd (18:34)
GS-C: Benjamin Spinola 4th (20:55)

See also

• Results on the Marathon website
  
• Eastern Region Hasler League to date 
  
• Race photos in Angela's Google album
  

The overall winners were Chelmsford CC  (600 pts). Awards were presented by the European Longcourse Champion James Russell.

Presentation photos from Kerstin