Winter Series
The Winter Series is a well-established series of marathon canoe races, curently consisting of seven races held between November and March on the Chelmer, Lea, Stort, Cam, Roding and 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 2018/19
Race 1: Bishops Stortford - 4 November 2018
Race 2: Cambridge - 25 November 2018 - see Cambridge race details
Race 3: Cheshunt (HYMB) - 9 December 2018 - see Cheshunt race details
Race 4: Chelmsford - 13 January 2019 (11:00 & 12:00 starts tbc)
Race 5: Leighton Buzzard - 3 February 2019
Race 6: Leaside - 17 February 2019 - see Leaside race details
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: Cambridge - 25 November 2018 - see Cambridge race details
Race 3: Cheshunt (HYMB) - 9 December 2018 - see Cheshunt race details
Race 4: Chelmsford - 13 January 2019 (11:00 & 12:00 starts tbc)
Race 5: Leighton Buzzard - 3 February 2019
Race 6: Leaside - 17 February 2019 - see Leaside race details
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
* C1 paddlers of Div 6 standard or higher must enter the Group 2 (Class 4) C1 Advanced race.
Juniors entering K1 Open (Class 8) should normally be at least Div6.
Ages are classified according to the paddler's age on 1st November 2018. Vet=35+.
Juniors entering K1 Open (Class 8) should normally be at least Div6.
Ages are classified according to the paddler's age on 1st November 2018. Vet=35+.
Rules, Safety & Responsibility
The full Winter Series rules can be seen here: Rules 2018/19 (corrected 2 Nov). The key changes for 2018/19 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 Touring C2 race has been reinstated as a separate class on the short course.
- The Marathon C2 race has been combined with the u16 K2 event on the middle-distance course (but retains its own separate perpetual trophy).
- Male and Female GP races have been combined into one class, but the four separate perpetual trophies for Mens GP, Ladies GP, u15 Boys GP, and u15 Girls GP remain.
- Competitors will be issued with pre-numbered boards, which must be returned on the day - there will be a fine of £5 for each missing board. Independent paddlers and non-FRA teams will be required to leave a returnable deposit when the boards are issued. Fablon squares will issued for boats which do not have number board holders.
- To avoid the expense of manufacturing a whole new set of boards, we will be using a combination of the existing Eastern Region Hasler boards and FRA sprint boards. To make this work, it has been necessary to re-number the classes.
- All 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishers will receive medals - it will no longer be capped according to the number of race entries
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.
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.
Race numbers: Competitors will be issued with pre-numbered boards, which must be returned on the day - there will be a fine of £5 for lost boards. Independent paddlers and non-FRA teams will be required to leave a returnable deposit when the boards are issued. Fablon squares will issued for boats which do not have number board holders. Although paddlers/crews will race under the same race number throughout the series - unless changing classes, partners or boat type - boards MUST be returned to HQ on the day.
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.
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.
Race numbers: Competitors will be issued with pre-numbered boards, which must be returned on the day - there will be a fine of £5 for lost boards. Independent paddlers and non-FRA teams will be required to leave a returnable deposit when the boards are issued. Fablon squares will issued for boats which do not have number board holders. Although paddlers/crews will race under the same race number throughout the series - unless changing classes, partners or boat type - boards MUST be returned to HQ on the day.
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).
Privacy: The FRA take your privacy seriously. We will process competitors' details on the basis of our legitimate interest as the coordinators of this race series. Race results and reports will be published and will include names and age/gender/PaddleAbility classification. Photographs taken at events may be used in race reports and publicity for future events. You have the right to object to the processing of your information. Please contact the Secretary with any concerns. See the Privacy page for more details.
