The Leighton Buzzard race certainly put the "Winter" into Winter Series, with snow falling from before the start of booking in. This eventually gave way to icy rain whilst most people were out on the water - conditions which persisted for the rest of the day. Despite the weather, 107 competitors checked in, and though there were a few retirements, most were able to complete the course.

The home club put up a good team, for most of whom it was their first experience of the Winter Series. Such a good team in fact that they were the overall winners - the first time since 2009 that a team has managed to beat Chelmsford in a WS race!

Buzzard paddlers also took individual medals in six classes: three golds, two silvers and a bronze.

One distinctive feature that sets the Winter Series marathons apart from the Hasler series is the accumulation of points from race to race, with end-of-series awards and perpetual trophies presented at the final race of the each series. It is even possible to win a class without ever winning a race because the scoring system rewards persistence.  The cumulated class points for each paddler to date can be seen on the WS Results page  together with the results from the Leighton Buzzard race.

A team from the Royal Hospital School swelled the numbers of the K2 and C2 classes, and took 4th place overall as well as ​coming second to Chelmsford on Dick Grieves points (based on performance by novice juniors only). ​Chelmsford CC were the overall winners, B Stortford CC second and Barking & Dagenham CC third. 

The full individual and team results can be seen on the WS Results page. Find out how you are doing in the series overall by checking the cumulated class points. But remember that in order to be eligible for a series trophy you must have competed in three races, and that when calculating your total at the end of the series, only your best 5 races count!

The next race will be at Leighton Buzzard on 21 January - see L.Buzzard race information page.