A team of seven from BSCC went up to Nottingham for the National Sprint Regatta. The weather was mild but very windy, making for very choppy paddling conditions on the lake.
Jasper Kirtland was promoted from the Mini Sprint to the Intermediate class at the end of the 2023 season, and thoroughly enjoyed moving up a level! He qualified fastest for the K1 500m race in the heats, coming 2nd in the final (2:46.49), and paired up with Matthew Anderson of Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club in the K2 Intermediate races. They had two close fought sprints with a Glasgow pairing, with the BSF/LBZ pair taking the lead from the start before being narrowly beaten on the line and coming 2nd in both the K2 200m (1:00.19) and K2 500m (2:38.59).
When the promotions were announced at the end of the event, Jasper had been promoted from the Intermediate class up to Boy’s D - an excellent achievement.
| Rupert Kirtland was in the under 12s Mini Sprint B class, coming 4th in the K1 200m (1:34.17), then pairing with Connor Bates of Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club to come 3rd in the Mini Sprint A K2 500m final (3:17.17) and partnering with the winners of that race, Lexi Small and Freya Snell (of Wolverhampton and Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Clubs) to take 1st place in the K4 500m Mini Sprint (2:51.27).   Joe Fitzpatrick also competed in the Men’s B class, coming 4th in the K1 500m final (2:22.97), 4th in the K1 1000m final (5:21.48), and 3rd. |  In the Paddle-Ability class, Oliver Klumpler came 3rd in the K1 200m final race (1:10.88), and 4th in the K1 500m final race (3:32.99). As one of only two juniors in the class, he achieved two 1st places in his age group. Joao Spinola was representing Bishop’s Stortford at a Sprint Regatta for the first time, competing in the Men’s D class (combined with Master’s C/D), coming 5th in the K1 500m final (2:28.81), and a brilliant 2nd in the K1 200m final (55:77). He partnered with Joe Fitzpatrick in the K2 Men’s A/B and Master’s A K2 500m final, coming a very respectable 3rd (2:10.00) |
Rich Winstanley competed in the Master’s B class (combined with Men's C). He came 7th in the K1 1000m final (5:52.28) and 8th in the K1 500m final (2:45.02).
As this was a Junior Selection event, Eddie Kirtland was competing in the Boys Under 16 class (as opposed to Boy’s C). He took part in a number of heats, qualifying for the K1 Final 2 in the 200m (9th; 55.27), and the K4 500m final in conjunction with paddlers from Gailey, Richmond, and Worcester clubs, coming 7th (2:06.15).
Overall, it was a good set of results for the first National Sprint Regatta of the year!
See also the full results online.
Photos courtesy Flora Klumpler
