Many thanks to everyone who gave feedback following the last Winter Series (2023-24). The committee have now looked through your responses and decided on some changes for the coming season.

ENTRY SYSTEM: Many of you have your entries put in by your team leaders, but the vast majority of those who had used the entry system found it easy. A couple of tweaks have been suggested which we will be implementing for the coming season.

PAYMENTS: There were a good proportion of entrants who would like to be able to pay electronically. We feel the fees for accepting online payments are too steep, and there would be the added difficulty of making refunds if races are cancelled or postponed (much more likely with Winter racing). However, clubs will now be able to arrange advance electronic payments on behalf of their team if they wish. If your club has a mechanism for collecting electronic race fees centrally from you, they may be able to do this and then pay the FRA electronically.

PROMOTIONS: Last season the WS became a group A race - this was the only practical way of operating within the insurance requirements without requiring all club associates to purchase day tickets. Like all Group A races (including many non-Hasler races), last year's WS races were subject to promotions awarded by the MRC. This took everyone by surprise, not least the FRA committee! We had known promotions would be possible, but had not anticipated the number that were given. The MRC assure us that they are using the same algorithm to calculate promotions that are used for other events. If anyone feels their promotion is not justified they can ask their club's team leader to raise it with the Regional Marathon Adviser for their region. Promotions will continue to be listed on the WS results on the FRA website, but the MRC's technical boffins are working towards including WS results on the main Marathon Results system as well so that you will be able to see everything in the same place (hopefully this season).

SUPER-VET CLASSES: The Super-Vet (50+) classes for K1 M & F introduced last year as an experiment were well received (especially the Mens) and will be retained, and perpetual shields are being purchased for these classes. Taken together, we had more people competing in the Vet (35+) and SuperVet classes last season than we used to get in the un-divided Vet classes pre-Covid.

AGE-RELATED MEDALS: To give due respect to paddlers who carry on competing, the current age-related awards of First SuperVet (50+) and First UltraVet (60+) in the K1 and K2 classes will be extended to First HyperVet (70+) as well.

PADDLING-UP: Many people suggested that the paddlers should be allowed to paddle up into more senior races. The committee gave this serious consideration but felt that allowing paddlers to effectively sort themselves out by ability would undermine the concept of the age/gender based system that distinguishes the Winter Series from the Haslers. Vets will continue to be allowed to compete as Seniors, and SuperVets can compete as Vets, but otherwise paddling up will not be allowed. Those whose age places them on the 3-4 and 5 mile courses who would rather be doing the 7-9 mile course can enter the K2 classes, so long as at least one person in the crew is 16+.

NEW K1 OPEN CLASS ON SHORT COURSE: At the same time, the committee is fully aware that the huge range of ability that exists in any age band causes too big a challenge to some. In particular we want to create a more accessible class for brand new racers who are often not ready for the distance their age requires from them, or for those who just find winter conditions too demanding. We are therefore going to try out a new K1 class on the 3-4 mile course. It will be open to anyone of Div 7 standard or below who does not feel up to doing a longer course. Under-14s will not be able to enter this race as they would be doing this distance in their usual classes anyway. Medals and points will be given as normal, but there will be no series trophies.

BUOYANCY AIDS: Buoyancy aids in the WS are compulsory for everyone below Div 6 and everyone under 16. The committee has decided to extend this requirement to everyone taking part in an u16 race even if the child concerned has passed their 16th birthday since the start of the series. This will make it easier for bank staff to check buoyancy aid compliance.

STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDS: SUPs will be able to enter the two C1 classes, as is the case for Hasler races.

SLALOM BOATS: Similarly, Slalom boats, including fibreglass boats, will be able to enter the GP classes.

DAY TICKETS: Another change for this season is that "Single Event Membership" purchased in advance direct from Paddle UK has replaced the old method of purchasing a Day Ticket at the desk during check-in. As it seems SEM can only be purchased during the online entry process, it is vital that anyone attempting to enter on the day brings physical evidence of valid PUK membership (whether "On Water" or via their club).

The race rules for 2024-25 and the schedule of races can be seen on the main Winter Series page.

Class winners at this race were:
Class 1 (K2 16+ M) - Scott Leblanche & Domas Malinauskas (BAD)
Class 2 (K2 16+ Mixed) - Kayleigh Dixon & Matt Lodge (LBZ/NOR)
Class 3 (K2 16+ F) - Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling (BSF/EAL)
Class 4 (Marathon C2) - Peter & Helen Kruszelicki (PRA)

As the last race of the series, the prizegiving for the day was followed by the presentation of series trophies. First, second and third place engraved glasses were given in all classes, subject to paddlers/crews having completed at least three races. There are also perpetual shields or cups for most classes.

See also the full class & club results for 2023-24 Winter Series.

Some photos here

Last season we asked paddlers to give us their opinions about the Winter Series. We had an extremely good response and spent much time deliberating over everyone's feedback. We can't fix the weather (unfortunately) and some people wanted things changed in the opposite direction to other people, so we know we won't have pleased everyone.

At the same time, the Winter Series races were re-designated as Class A races (like Haslers) which necessitated further changes to fit in with MRC rules and requirements. All together, there were quite a number of changes to this season's series!

We would now like to know how all these changes worked for you, so we are inviting you to complete a very brief, anonymous survey using GoogleForms.

To take part in the survey,

• use the link that was mailed out to those on the FRA mailing list on 24 Jan,
• look out for the QR code poster at the Finals at Chelmsford (Sunday 28 January 2024),
• ask your club's WS team leader for the survey link,
  
• email the FRA Secretary from any email address that has been used to place entries in the WS during this season and request a link
  

Whoever was in charge of ordering the weather definitely let us down for this race, with a persistent icy rain that began just as the race was getting under way and did not let up until just after prizegiving.

Nevertheless, 105 paddlers turned up on the day and braved the conditions. 

Chelmsford were the overall winners, with Cambridge second and Stortford third. Cambridge won the most Dick Grieve points (based on performance of juniors Div 9 or below). The full club results are included on the end of the main results.

A select group of Winter Series devotees, plus a few from Ealing CC, Tonbridge CC, took part in the inaugural WS race at Maidstone - a total of 76 competitors in all.

The river levels had reduced since the previous week, enabling the postponed race to go ahead, but a rolling start was used because of the amount of flow.

The race was run very efficiently by the organising team at Maidstone, and everything went off smoothly. We hope that WS "regulars" from the Eastern Region clubs enjoyed the change of scenery, and that Maidstone will have us back again next year!

The next race will be the held at Cambridge on Sunday 3rd December.  The online entry system will close on Friday 1st.

Despite the after-effects of Storm Ciarán, which put both the usual parking field and the upstream section of the river out of action, the race was able to go ahead with 136 paddlers participating.

The largest class was the Veteran Men with 14 entries - this was in addition to the new SuperVet class which attracted a further 8.

Matthew Johnson & Leah Falltrick achieved an impressively speedy time of 53:15 on the 7-mile course. Although 53s faster than the course record set by Kat Wilson & Mark Wilkes in 2016, the original record still stands because on this occasion the turn was moved significantly short of Sawbridgeworth Lock to avoid works taking place there.  [Edited]

The new class structure put ladies' singles races on the 7-mile course for the first time, with the honour of setting the standard going to Sienna Payne in 1:02:40.

Class winners were:
Class 1 (K2 16+ M) - Scott Leblanche & Domas Malinauskas (BAD)
Class 2 (K2 16+ Mixed) - Matthew Johnson & Leah Falltrick (CLM)
Class 3 (K2 16+ F) - Kerstin Queeney & Catherine Ayling (BSF/EAL)
Class 5 (K1 Sen M) - Tim Gannicott-Porter (CLM)
Class 6 (K1 Sen F) - Megan Kenny (EXE)
Class 7 (K1 Vet M) - Richard Winstanley (BSF)
Class 8 (K1 Vet F) - Kat Wilson (BSF)
Class 9 (K1 u18 M) - Ali Kabeer (WOK)
Class 10 (K1 u18 F) - Sienna Payne (CLM)
Class 20 (K1 SuperVet M) - Ben Tubby (BSF)
Class 21 (K1 SuperVet F) - Tammy Edwards (NOR)
Class 22 (K2 u16) - Rebecca Perrin & James Johnson (CLM)
Class 23 (K1 u16 M) -  Cassian Payne (CLM)
Class 24 (K1 u16 F) -  May Perrin (CLM)
Class 25 (C1 Adv) - Tan Shanzheng (CAM)
Class 30 (Touring C2) - Adrian Pyke & Chris Howe (CAM)
Class 31 (K1 u14 M) - Matteo Bose (CLM)
Class 32 (K1 u14 F) - Libby Gaulton (BSF)
Class 33 (C1 novice) - Petr Luksan (BSF)
Class 34 (GP 16+ M) - Tim Chamberlin (CLM)
Class 34 (GP 16+ F) - Deborah Wilkes (CLM)
Class 38 (K1 u12 M) - Alessio Bose (CLM)
Class 39 (K1 u12 F) - Lucy Myers (LBZ)

The medals were presented by Richard Townsend, the Mayor of Bishops Stortford.

Chelmsford were the winners with 338 points, followed by Stortford (183) and Leighton Buzzard (125). Stortford won the most Dick Grieve points (based on performance of juniors Div 9 or below), Chelmsford second and Leighton Buzzard third. The full results are included on the end of the main results.

See

• the full race results on the Winter Series results page
  
• a few other photos of the race on Google Photos
  

The next race will be the inaugural Winter Series race at Maidstone on Sunday 19th November.  The online entry system will close on Friday 17th.

After being called off by ice the week before, the postponed race went ahead in dry and sunny conditions. Smaller than usual turnouts in some of the classes led to the organisers combining some of the starts.

High river levels on the 15th Jan, with more rain predicted, meant that the race was postponed by a week. The last minute date change combined with cold temperatures resulting in a much lower attendance than usual. However, this did mean that the 89 loyal competitors who made their way around one, two or three loops of the river Can through Chelmsford had a greater chance to boost their series points total.

Chelmsford CC's own members naturally made up the vast majority of those taking part, and were the overall winners, both in terms of total club points and points won by novice juniors (towards the Dick Grieve Trophy).  Cambridge CC finished in overall second place, ahead of Leighton Buzzard CC by just one point. However, Leighton Buzzard CC's novice juniors took second, 3 points ahead of Bishop's Stortford CC.

There was another good turnout of 135 competitors for the Cambridge Winter Series race, with the senior doubles  class being, as usual, the largest with 24 boats - it was lovely to see five MC2s amongst these. The Vet MK1s were also out in typical force, but more surprisingly their number (14) was equalled by the Open K1 class.

Ten teams took part. Chelmsford CC were the overall winners at Cambridge (236 points), with Cambridge CC second (122), followed by Norwich CC (95). In the competition for the Dick Grieve Trophy (based on the performance of novice juniors only) Chelmsford CC were again in the lead (43 points) while Bishops Stortford CC and Leighton Buzzard CC tied for second place with 32 points each.

This means that with, two more races to go, four clubs (Cambridge, Stortford, Buzzard, and Norwich) all have exactly the same number of series points. There is also a tie for first place in the Dick Grieve competition between Chelmsford and Stortford (with Leighton Buzzard close behind). Even the Bob Porter Trophy (for the club with most participating u12s across the series) is currently tied between Leighton Buzzard, Bishops Stortford and Chelmsford!

See

• the full race results on the Winter Series results page
• a few other photos of the race on Google Photos
  

The next race will be at Chelmsford on 15th January.