Winter Series
The Winter Series is a well-established series of six marathon canoe races held between November and March on the Chelmer, Lea, Stort, Cam and Roding. Unfortunately, there will be no Cam race in the 2017-18 series, but we are introducing a new race at Leighton Buzzard on the Grand Union Canal. The Winter Series is a great introduction to the sport for newcomers as there are several classes aimed at the new paddler. It also has a lot to offer the experienced racer with a number of distance events. The races are often attended by some of the best paddlers in the region.
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As well as individual trophies there is a strong club element, with clubs vying for the overall trophy as well as the Dick Grieves trophy for the club with the most successful team of novice juniors.
The classes are organised by age, sex and boat type over three different distances. An outline of the classes and distances can be seen below; for complete details, please read the Rules (see below). If you would like more details about Marathon canoeing in general you will find information at British Canoeing's Marathon website (http://canoeracing.org.uk/marathon/). For past results and trophy winners see WS results page. |
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Race dates 2017/18
Race 1: Bishops Stortford - 5 November 2017 - results
Race 2: Cheshunt (HYMB) - 19 November 2017 - results
Race 3: Barking - 3 December 2017 (race start 11am) - results
Race 4: Chelmsford - 14 January 2018 (11:00 & 12:00 starts) - results
Race 5: Leighton Buzzard - 21 January 2018 - results
Race 6: Leaside - 28 January 2018 - results
There is no reserve date in the event of race postponement.
All races start at 12:00 (unless otherwise stated).
Download a poster of race dates & classes
Urgent announcements: last-minute changes are possible due to adverse weather etc. Where possible we will try to email the registered team leaders. Status bulletins (if any) will also appear on this website.
Race results - see the Winter Series results page
Series awards: To qualify for an individual series trophy, paddlers must have competed in at least three races, and their final score will be the sum of their best 5 results.
Race 2: Cheshunt (HYMB) - 19 November 2017 - results
Race 3: Barking - 3 December 2017 (race start 11am) - results
Race 4: Chelmsford - 14 January 2018 (11:00 & 12:00 starts) - results
Race 5: Leighton Buzzard - 21 January 2018 - results
Race 6: Leaside - 28 January 2018 - results
There is no reserve date in the event of race postponement.
All races start at 12:00 (unless otherwise stated).
Download a poster of race dates & classes
Urgent announcements: last-minute changes are possible due to adverse weather etc. Where possible we will try to email the registered team leaders. Status bulletins (if any) will also appear on this website.
Race results - see the Winter Series results page
Series awards: To qualify for an individual series trophy, paddlers must have competed in at least three races, and their final score will be the sum of their best 5 results.
Classes
Rules, Safety & Responsibility
The full Winter Series rules can be seen here: Rules 2017/18 (amended October 2017). The key changes for 2017/18 are:
Please remember that the BC Marathon Racing Committee general safety rules for a Group B race also apply (display MRC safety rules) - taken from the Racing Handbook online. These include requirements for boat buoyancy and use of personal buoyancy aids, and also require that all competitors must be able to swim adequately in the waters on which the race is being held.
Competitors are reminded that Canoeing/Kayaking is an “assumed risk – water contact sport” that may carry attendant risks. Participants (and those with parental/legal responsibility for u18s) should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement. As with all river activities, there is a small risk of Weil’s disease.
While the ultimate responsibility for the decision to participate lies with the competitors or their parents/guardians, the FRA also requires Team Leaders to endorse the competency of their team members, to check the safety and suitability of equipment and clothing, and ensuring that buoyancy aids are worn by all u16s and all Div 7/8/9 (or judged to be of that standard by their Team Leaders) and where they deem necessary. Team leaders should also ensure that their members are aware of the need for care in lifting and handling boats.
Each host club is responsible for ensuring the safe running of its event and may impose additional requirements in response to local conditions or to comply with local rules, these will be detailed in the event description and/or at the briefing on the day.
- The MC2 and TC2 classes have been combined into a single C2 class on the middle distance, but with separate perpetual trophies.
- Where the crew members of a doubles boat are from different teams, their points will not count towards either club’s total.
- The Ladies K2 perpetual trophy will now be given to the highest scoring all female (not mixed) crew in Class 1.
Please remember that the BC Marathon Racing Committee general safety rules for a Group B race also apply (display MRC safety rules) - taken from the Racing Handbook online. These include requirements for boat buoyancy and use of personal buoyancy aids, and also require that all competitors must be able to swim adequately in the waters on which the race is being held.
Competitors are reminded that Canoeing/Kayaking is an “assumed risk – water contact sport” that may carry attendant risks. Participants (and those with parental/legal responsibility for u18s) should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement. As with all river activities, there is a small risk of Weil’s disease.
While the ultimate responsibility for the decision to participate lies with the competitors or their parents/guardians, the FRA also requires Team Leaders to endorse the competency of their team members, to check the safety and suitability of equipment and clothing, and ensuring that buoyancy aids are worn by all u16s and all Div 7/8/9 (or judged to be of that standard by their Team Leaders) and where they deem necessary. Team leaders should also ensure that their members are aware of the need for care in lifting and handling boats.
Each host club is responsible for ensuring the safe running of its event and may impose additional requirements in response to local conditions or to comply with local rules, these will be detailed in the event description and/or at the briefing on the day.
Registration & Booking In
Competitors/Crews joining the series: Race entries can only be made by somebody registered to do so. If you are paddling as part of a team, please let your Team Leader know that you would like to take part and ask them to pre-enter you. It is also possible for independent paddlers to enter without being part of a team. In this case they (or their parents if juniors) take on all the responsibilities that would normally fall to their Team Leader, so they must go through the registration process too.
See the Registration page to register as a Team Leader / Independent Paddler.
Race numbers: Paddlers/crews keep the same race number throughout the series - unless changing classes, partners or boat type. These will be issued as a pair sticky labels that you can put on your number board (any colour!). If lost, labels can be re-issued for 20p a pair.
Fee: £5 per seat for all ages and all classes. There are no late fees and no pre-payment is required. Your Team Leader will let you know whether you should book yourself in at the desk on arrival, or whether they will book the team in themselves en bloc.
Insurance: All paddlers are required to have £5 million Public Liability insurance. Most paddlers will have this through membership of British Canoeing, or membership of a BC-affiliated club. Membership of a BC-affiliated club is only valid when paddling as part of your own club's official team, so everyone else needs to show personal BC membership cards (ideally by emailing photos in advance). Where none of these apply, an "Event Ticket" (British Canoeing Competition Insurance) must be purchased (£5).
See the Registration page to register as a Team Leader / Independent Paddler.
Race numbers: Paddlers/crews keep the same race number throughout the series - unless changing classes, partners or boat type. These will be issued as a pair sticky labels that you can put on your number board (any colour!). If lost, labels can be re-issued for 20p a pair.
Fee: £5 per seat for all ages and all classes. There are no late fees and no pre-payment is required. Your Team Leader will let you know whether you should book yourself in at the desk on arrival, or whether they will book the team in themselves en bloc.
Insurance: All paddlers are required to have £5 million Public Liability insurance. Most paddlers will have this through membership of British Canoeing, or membership of a BC-affiliated club. Membership of a BC-affiliated club is only valid when paddling as part of your own club's official team, so everyone else needs to show personal BC membership cards (ideally by emailing photos in advance). Where none of these apply, an "Event Ticket" (British Canoeing Competition Insurance) must be purchased (£5).