Despite a day of continuous cold rain, 108 determined paddlers turned out for the fourth race of the Winter Series - and there was not one single retirement.

The results of this race can be found on the Winter Series Results page. There you will also find the cumulated series results from all the four races to date, both for individuals and for clubs. Please remember that each competitor/crew has to have paddled in at least three races this season to be eligible for a series prize, and also that we only count your best 5 results - you may be doing better than you think.

141 paddlers took part in the third race of the series at Cambridge. The weather was sunny and mild.

The full results of the day's race can be seen on the WS results page, where series results to date can also be found. The next race will take place at Cheshunt from Herts Young Mariners Base.

There were 156 competitors for the opening race of the 2016-17 Winter Series, in 126 boats. The senior K2 race on the long course proved especially popular, with a massive 23 entries.

It was lovely to see most of the usual faces, and we were particular pleased to welcome a small team from Norwich CC for the first time.

The Chelmsford team supplied two new course records on the long course. Dan Johnson & James Walkinton completed the 7 miles and 6 portages in 52:42, beating the previous best time of 54:19 set in 2014 by Mark & Peter Wilkes.  The Mixed K2 record of 57:28 (2015, Leanne Brown and Aaron Jordan) fell to Mark Wilkes and Kat Wilson, who finished in 53:08.  On the middle-distance course, Melissa Johnson came very close to equalling Vicky Surrage's record of 44:44 for Ladies K1 which has stood since 2007, by completing the 5 miles and 3 portages in 44:50.

The 2016-17 Winter Series of canoe marathon races will be kicking off again in November. The dates will be:

Race 1: Bishops Stortford - 6 November 2016
Race 2: Barking - 27 November 2016
Race 3: Cambridge - 11 December 2016
Race 4: Cheshunt (HYMB) - 15 January 2017
Race 5: Chelmsford - 29 January 2017
Race 6: Leaside - 12 February 2017

Full details, rules, classes etc can be found on the Winter Series page.

There is a list of races here that you can download and print out for your club or fridge door!

Paddlers racing as part of a club team should be initially registered by their designated Team Leaders. If you are the Team Leader for your club, please register with the FRA Secretary now by filling in the Team Leader Registration form (see the link on the Winter Series page) - you should be able to complete it electronically, but if there are problems please print it out and email back a photo of the completed form. You only need to do this once for the series.

Independent paddlers should each register as leader of their own "team" (or their parent where the paddler is under 18) - the paddler in this case will need to hold British Canoeing membership.

Hope to see lots of you at the first race at Bishops Stortford!

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.

A number of perpetual trophies are already in the bag for some high-performers. Leanne Brown & Aaron Jordan (Senior K2), Keith Moule (Mens K1), Danny Beazley (Vet Mens K1), James Russell (u18 Mens K1), Melissa Johnson (u18 Ladies K1), Caitlin Field O'Hanlon & Danielle Clifford (u16 K2), and Katy Dixon (12 Girls K1) have each managed to win all five of their races so far, and are therefore unassailable. In most other cases though, the winners of the class trophies (engraved glasses for first, second and third place) and the perpetual trophies hang on the outcome of the last race. Check how you are doing in the series results so far. Please remember that it is your best 5 results only that count, and each paddler/crew must have  entered at least three races to be eligible.

The series trophies will be presented at the final race - Leaside on 6th March.

It was a cold day - but not unreasonable given that it is January after all! There was no repeat of yesterday's rain and we even had wintery sunshine. In total there were 107 entries. The new courses (2, 4 or 6 laps) meant that those on the longest course did not need to go out so far into the estuary, and thus avoided the issues with tankers which bedevilled last year's event. It also made a much better race for the spectators who got to see a lot more of the action.

The organisers were careful to check that all boats had buoyancy (note well for next year!) but got everyone onto the water with great efficiency. It was a later than usual start for the race due to the tide, but  the nature of the new courses enabled many of the classes to start simultaneously and prevented much waiting around.

There were 114 competitors at the race on 6th December, hosted by HYM-COPS at Herts Young Mariners Base, Cheshunt - a slightly lower turnout than usual, probably due to the blowy conditions. Choppy water caused a couple of capsizes at the start, but the course was well-manned with rescue crews.

The series will continue after Christmas with a race at Barking on 10th January.