WS 2024-25 Race 1: Stortford Results

The race attracted 120 competitors, many of them of an extremely high standard. The men's and women's SuperVet (50+) classes introduced last year proved even more popular than before, with the men's race having the most entries of any class at this event.

Matthew Johnson & Leah Falltrick of Chelmsford CC were again the fastest K2 on the 7-mile course (55:14), one of three doubles boats to finish in under an hour.

There was a photo finish between Cambridge CC's Samuel Newlands (56:55) and Chelmsford's Tim Gannicott-Porter (56:56) in the Senior Men's race. The other boat to complete the 7-mile course in under an hour was Cassian Payne from Chelmsford, winner of the u18 Men's race.

Tori Elliott-Moulden from Cambridge CC was the fastest lady on the 7 mile course, and thus sets the the Ladies course record at 1:19:08. (Times set last year when the Ladies' races were first moved to this distance cannot be used as records, due to course having been shortened to avoid works at the lock).

The C1 classes were opened up to Stand Up Paddleboards this season for the first time, and two SUP paddlers entered Class 25 on the 5 mile course - Karis Parker came 3rd and won the medal for fastest lady in this class.

The K1 Open race on the 3 mile course, a new experiment for this season, proved very popular indeed. Nine paddlers, mainly teenagers and vets who would otherwise be on the longer courses, took advantage of this shorter option.

The Mayor of Bishop's Stortford, Richard Townsend, presented the medals. Class winners were:
Class 1 (K2 16+ M) - Oscar Griffiths & Daniel O'Halloran (CLM)
Class 2 (K2 16+ Mixed) - Matthew Johnson & Leah Falltrick (CLM)
Class 3 (K2 16+ F) - Sienna Payne & Lauren Avery (CLM)

​Class 4 (Marathon C2) - Peter & Helen Kruszelnicki (PRA)
Class 5 (K1 Sen M) - Samuel Newlands (CAM)
Class 6 (K1 Sen F) - Eilidh White (BSF)
Class 7 (K1 Vet M) - Doug Herbert (CLM)
Class 8 (K1 Vet F) - Gayle McKeand (CLM)
Class 9 (K1 u18 M) - Cassian Payne (CLM)
Class 10 (K1 u18 F) - Tori Elliott-Moulden (CAM)
​Class 20 (K1 SuperVet M) - Ben Tubby (BSF)
​Class 21 (K1 SuperVet F) - Claudia Redeker (BSF)
​Class 22 (K2 u16) - Sophie Kent & Rubie Towle (LBZ)
Class 23 (K1 u16 M) -  Matteo Bose (CLM)
Class 24 (K1 u16 F) -  Rebecca Perrin (CLM)
Class 25 (C1 Adv) - Ross Pearton (HEM)
Class 30 (Touring C2) - Barry Howe & Philip Hyde (CLM)
Class 31 (K1 u14 M) - Jasper Kirtland (BSF)

​Class 32 (K1 u14 F) - Freya Bentley (CLM)
Class 33 (C1 novice) - Petr Luksan (BSF)
Class 34 (GP 16+ M) - Chris Sharp (NOR)
Class 34 (GP 16+ F) - Deborah Wilkes (CLM)
Class 38 (K1 u12 M) - Rupert Kirtland (BSF)
Class 40 (K1 Open) - Rikki Weir (BAD)

Chelmsford were the winners with 398 points, followed by Stortford (126) and Cambridge (105). Chelmsford also gathered the most Dick Grieve points (based on performance of juniors Div 9 or below), with Leighton Buzzard second and Stortford third. The points totals for each club are included on the end of the race results.

See

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

Promotions have been awarded by the MRC on the basis of these results:

• Neale Gregory (TON) to Division 2
  
• Matthew Villaruel (EAL) to Division 3
  
• Matteo Bose (CLM) to Division 3
• Jasper Nielsen (CLM) to Division 4

The next race will be at Maidstone on Sunday 17th November.  The online entry system will close on Friday 15th.