The club sent an 8-strong team of paddlers to the June National Sprint Regatta at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham.
For everyone over 34 years of age at the event, this was the National Championships, with medals available in various age categories.
For everyone over 34 years of age at the event, this was the National Championships, with medals available in various age categories.
| In the individual events, Claudia Redeker had an excellent debut at Nottingham, winning gold in the Over-54 K1 200m and K1 500m. Kerstin Queeney, also in her first national regatta, came home with bronze in the Over-54 K1 1000m. Ben Tubby, again racing at Nottingham for the first time, won bronze in the Over-44 K1 500m, behind two very experienced veterans of the sport. Rich Winstanley managed to come away with two silver medals in the individual events in the Over-34 K1 500m and K1 1000m. |  |
In the doubles, Claudia and Kerstin teamed up for the Over-54 K2 1000m, taking a very close second place. In the Over-34 mens K2 1000m, Rich Winstanley teamed up with Shaune Walsh of Nottingham to take home the gold medal. Claudia and Ben joined forces to take gold in the Over-44 mixed K2 500m.
In the K4 event, Claudia and Kerstin paddled with Catherine Shirley and Sally Alexander of Ealing and Addlestone Clubs respectively, and won the gold medal.
In the K4 event, Claudia and Kerstin paddled with Catherine Shirley and Sally Alexander of Ealing and Addlestone Clubs respectively, and won the gold medal.
Outside of the national championships events, it was a normal regatta for the juniors, who were racing in ability classes.
Oleh Kuzmenko had a fantastic first regatta racing in Boys D, where he came second in both his individual events of K1 200m and the new format 2500m long distance event. These performances earned him a promotion to Boys C for the next regatta Edward Kirtland had a great day on the Saturday, coming in a convincing second place in the Boys C K1 200m, earning him a promotion to Boys B. Jasper Kirtland was just over a second behind his brother in the Boys C K1 200m final giving him a solid 5th place. Jasper also qualified for the final in K1 500m, and came in 5th. Libby Gaulton qualified for the Girls D K1 200m final, and came 8th. She also took part in the 2500m long distance event and raced really well to come 6th out of 19.
In the doubles events, Edward and Oleh teamed up together, and Jasper paddled with Knoah Aryan of Oxford. Both took part in the Boys C K2 500m, which Oleh and Edward won, with Jasper and Knoah coming second. For the 200m event, Boys A-C were combined into a single race meaning the boys were up against the best boys in the country. Despite both boats putting down good times in the heats, it wasn't enough to qualify for the finals.
Oleh Kuzmenko had a fantastic first regatta racing in Boys D, where he came second in both his individual events of K1 200m and the new format 2500m long distance event. These performances earned him a promotion to Boys C for the next regatta Edward Kirtland had a great day on the Saturday, coming in a convincing second place in the Boys C K1 200m, earning him a promotion to Boys B. Jasper Kirtland was just over a second behind his brother in the Boys C K1 200m final giving him a solid 5th place. Jasper also qualified for the final in K1 500m, and came in 5th. Libby Gaulton qualified for the Girls D K1 200m final, and came 8th. She also took part in the 2500m long distance event and raced really well to come 6th out of 19.
In the doubles events, Edward and Oleh teamed up together, and Jasper paddled with Knoah Aryan of Oxford. Both took part in the Boys C K2 500m, which Oleh and Edward won, with Jasper and Knoah coming second. For the 200m event, Boys A-C were combined into a single race meaning the boys were up against the best boys in the country. Despite both boats putting down good times in the heats, it wasn't enough to qualify for the finals.
In K4, the event was again a Boys A-C combined race. The club entered an all Stortford crew of Jasper, Edward, Oleh (Boys D) and Libby (Girls D). Both Oleh and Libby were racing up in the higher ability class than they were ranked. Against the best boys crews in the country, the Stortford boat managed a credible 6th place.
The next national regatta (July) will be the Junior, Senior and Under-23 National Championships.
The next national regatta (July) will be the Junior, Senior and Under-23 National Championships.
See also the full results on the Sprint Racing Committee website.
Photos & reporting: Rich Winstanley
Photos & reporting: Rich Winstanley
