WS 2018-19 Race 5: Leaside & Series 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.

Class winners at this race were:
Class 9 (Senior K2) - Leah Falltrick & Matt Johnson (CLM)
Class 8 (K1 Open) -Tim Gannicott-Porter (CLM)
Class 7 (Vet M K1) - Mike Martin (LBZ)
Class 6 (u18 M K1) - David Gurney (BSF)
Class 5 (u16 M K1) -Sebastian Tideswell (CAM)
Class 4 (16+ K1 & Adv C1) - Octavia Abbott (BSF)
Class 3 (u16 K2 & MC2) - Chris Blackmore & Jack Skippings (CLM)
Class 2 (u16 F K1)  - Franchesca Williamson (CLM)
Class 1 (TC2) - Lee Menday & Les Thompson (IND)
Class Blue (u14 M K1) - Philip Levkivskyy (EAL)
Class Red (u14 F K1 & C1) - Imogen Hunter (CAM)
Class GP - Jessica Kemp (LEA)
Class Yellow (u12 K1) - Rupert Tideswell (CAM)

Full results can be found on the results page. Chelmsford CC were the overall winners, Leighton Buzzard CC were second and Bishops Stortford CC third.  Leaside CC scored the most points from unranked juniors,  followed by Chelmsford CC, and Leighton Buzzard CC  third.

Big thanks are due to those from other clubs who helped out with the marshalling, especially Martin and Maureen from HYM-COPS.

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.

This year's trophy winners were:
Sen K2 - Sophie Parker & James Walkinton (CLM)
Ladies K2 - Julie Hicks & Caroline Banson (NOR)
u16 K2 - Jamie McAdam & Ilirian Bushi (HYM)
Sen M K1 - Keith Moule (CLM)
Vet M K1 - Mike Martin (LBZ)
u18 M K1 - Oscar Griffiths (CLM)
u16 M K1 - Jonathan Pirmuhamedov (CLM)
Sen F K1 - Bethany Goodlad (LBZ)
Vet F K1 - Octavia Abbott (BSF)
u16 K1 - Kathryn Comben (CLM)
u14 M K1  - Philip Levkovskyy (EAL)
u14 F K1 - Imogen Hunter (CAM)
u12 M K1  - Rupert Tideswell (CAM)
u12 F K1 - Kayleigh Dixon (LBZ)
MC2 - Nigel Dixon & Paul Stenning (LBZ)
TC2 - Les Thompson & Lee Menday (IND)
Adv C1 - Nicholas Boyd (IND)
Novice C1 - David Shipway (LBZ)
M GP - Oliver Lancashire (CLM)
F GP - Deborah Wilkes (CLM)
See also the full class & club results for 2018-19 Winter Series.

Chelmsford CC were the overall series club winners. This precluded them from also winning the Dick Grieve Trophy which is based on performance by unranked juniors - this therefore went to Leighton Buzzard despite stiff competition from both HYM-COPS and Leaside, who finished in joint second place. Chelmsford CC won the Bob Porter Trophy for the most participation by under 12s across the series.

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 Winter Series will return in the autumn. In the meantime there is the Summer Sprint Series to look forward to (dates to be published shortly).  Please add yourself to the FRA mailing list if you would like to be kept informed about either of these.

All the profits from the series go to the constituent FRA clubs to support racing at the grass roots. If you have any comments about the series or suggestions for the future, please do pass them to your club's FRA committee member (if you are a member of the one of the seven clubs comprising the FRA). Other clubs/paddlers can send their comments direct to the FRA Secretary.