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Leaside kicked off the 2019 sprinting season by hosting the first of the FRA summer regattas at their base in Hackney. Five clubs were represented.
There were 500m and 200m heats before lunch, and then a 3K in the afternoon which was won by Finn. 
See the Sprint Series results page for the full results.
After ice had prevented the Leighton Buzzard Winter Series race from going ahead only two weeks before, the 92 competitors for this event were able to enjoy perfect paddling conditions. Twelve clubs were represented.
 The presentations for the day were immediately followed by the series awards. This year, since there had only been five races in the series, the competitors' best four results only were considered. Paddlers must have competed in three events to be eligible for an award. Engraved glasses were presented for 1st, 2nd and 3rd-placed competitors/crews in each class. A large number of perpetual trophies were also awarded - in many case more than one in each class.
Across the series, 243 different paddlers have taken part (after allowing for changes of class or crew) and 42 of these have entered every race! Fifteen different clubs have been represented, plus a number of independents.
 The first race of the Summer Series opened at Leaside in a minor heatwave - somewhat bizarrely, after the Chelmsford Regatta (which should have been the first event) was called off due to snow and freezing cold conditions only 5 weeks ago.
There were 33 competitors for the main part of the competition which involved several heats over 500m and 200m.
The next regatta in this series is schedule to be at Herts Young Mariners Base, Cheshunt, on Sunday 10th June. Sign up for the FRA mailing list if you would like to be alerted when the details for this and other future Summer and Winter Series events are announced.
 Race Organiser Alan and an enthusiastic team of volunteers made a splendid job of staging the event, which as usual culminated in the presentation of the series trophies, and also the engraved glasses for those achieving a 1st, 2nd or 3rd class position.  
Some photos of the event can be seen on Flickr.
Twenty-two paddlers took part in the third Regatta of the series, including teams from Leaside, HYM-COPS, Ealing and Stortford.  The morning consisted of 500m and 200m K1 heats. After the lunch break there was a 200m team relay, which was won by the group from Ealing.
 The results from the Leaside Regatta are online, and also the series results to date. The final race of the Summer Series will take place at Bishops Stortford on 11th September, where the series trophies will also be awarded.
One hundred and twenty six paddlers representing 10 different clubs turned out for the final race of the series and were rewarded with some fine, crisp weather.  There was a photo-finish in class 1 when Sophie Parker & Peter Wilkes (CLM) won the senior K2 race by a second ahead of Leanne Brown & Aaron Jordan (BAD). There was a similarly tight result in Men's GP where Jack Eagles (BAD) finished just ahead of Tim Chamberlin (CLM).  James Russell, Caitlin Field O'Hanlon & Danielle Clifford, and Katy Dixon each completed their 6th successive win. See the full results for the Leaside Winter Series race. David and Penny Glover have put a video of the race on You-Tube. 
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