Winter Series
The Winter Series is a well-established series of marathon canoe races, traditionally consisting of six races held over the winter months. Recently, this reduced to four races, hosted by Chelmsford CC, Bishops Stortford CC, Cambridge CC and Leighton Buzzard CC - but returns to five events this year with a brand new race at Maidstone CC. 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 2023/24
Race 1: Bishops Stortford - 5 November 2023 (11:30 start) - results
Race 2: Maidstone - 26 November 2023 - results
Race 2: Cambridge - 3 December 2023 - RACE DETAILS
Race 3: Leighton Buzzard - 14 January 2024
Race 4: Chelmsford - 28 January 2024 (11:00 & 12:00 starts - tbc)
Races may be re-scheduled in the event of bad weather.
Races usually start at 12:00, but check individual races for details.
A poster of race dates & classes can be downloaded.
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/crews must have competed in at least three races, and their final score will be the sum of all their results across the series, bar one race.
Race 2: Maidstone - 26 November 2023 - results
Race 2: Cambridge - 3 December 2023 - RACE DETAILS
Race 3: Leighton Buzzard - 14 January 2024
Race 4: Chelmsford - 28 January 2024 (11:00 & 12:00 starts - tbc)
Races may be re-scheduled in the event of bad weather.
Races usually start at 12:00, but check individual races for details.
A poster of race dates & classes can be downloaded.
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/crews must have competed in at least three races, and their final score will be the sum of all their results across the series, bar one race.
Classes
Rules, Safety & Responsibility
The Winter Series rules for 2023/24 can be found here: Rules 2023/24. The key changes for 2023/24 will be:
BC Marathon Racing Committee general safety rules continue to apply (see Racing Handbook page F5), including requirements for boat buoyancy and use of personal buoyancy aids (for all paddlers below Div 6 standard), that all competitors must be able to swim adequately in the waters on which the race is being held, and that competitors help others in distress. Due to the season, the FRA additionally requires that buoyancy aids are worn by all paddlers under 16, regardless of standard.
There may be additional safety requirements at events in response to local conditions or to comply with local rules, these will be detailed in the event description and/or in the briefing.
Competitors are reminded that Canoeing/Kayaking is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. 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 expects Team Leaders to consider the competency of their team members, including the safety and suitability of equipment and clothing, and to ensure that buoyancy aids are worn by all paddlers as required by the rules and and also wherever they deem necessary or have been advised by the Race Organiser. Team leaders should also satisfy themselves that their members are aware of proper race behaviour and the need for care in lifting and handling boats.
- The series is now being run as a Group A event, as described in the Racing Handbook page F4.
- Pre-entries will be made using the MRC online entry system. All competitors must therefore have current personal BC membership, or a Club Associate membership issued by their club, or must purchase Competition Event Insurance ("Day Ticket")
- If paddlers are already registered to a club for marathon racing (in Haslers etc), that is the one they must race for in the WS.
- If the paddlers in a crew boat belong to different clubs, each paddlers' points will now be counted separately towards the scores of their respective clubs.
- The classes have been re-structured. In some cases the distance to be paddled has changed.
- New male and female SuperVet (50+) classes have been created on the 5-mile course, but SuperVets may still choose to paddle as Vets on the longer course if they wish. As the SuperVet classes are experimental, there will be no perpetual trophy for these classes this year (though 1st/2nd/3rd will still be awarded)
- Because of the number of extra classes, silver and bronze medals will only be awarded in classes where a threshold of craft are participating - this limitation will not apply to u12s, u14s or u16s classes.
- Where entries are low at any race, class starts may be amalgamated with a similar class, but this will not affect points or medals received.
- As a Group A events, results are notified to the MRC rankings officer and promotions may be made.
BC Marathon Racing Committee general safety rules continue to apply (see Racing Handbook page F5), including requirements for boat buoyancy and use of personal buoyancy aids (for all paddlers below Div 6 standard), that all competitors must be able to swim adequately in the waters on which the race is being held, and that competitors help others in distress. Due to the season, the FRA additionally requires that buoyancy aids are worn by all paddlers under 16, regardless of standard.
There may be additional safety requirements at events in response to local conditions or to comply with local rules, these will be detailed in the event description and/or in the briefing.
Competitors are reminded that Canoeing/Kayaking is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. 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 expects Team Leaders to consider the competency of their team members, including the safety and suitability of equipment and clothing, and to ensure that buoyancy aids are worn by all paddlers as required by the rules and and also wherever they deem necessary or have been advised by the Race Organiser. Team leaders should also satisfy themselves that their members are aware of proper race behaviour and the need for care in lifting and handling boats.
Registration & Booking In
Competitors/Crews joining the series: It will usually be WS Team Leaders appointed by the clubs who will place entries. 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 enter you. Advance entries will be made through the same online race entry system used for Haslers. The deadline for this will usually be the Friday before the race.
Fee: £5 per seat for Juniors, £10 for Seniors. There are no late fees and no pre-payment is required.
Race numbers: Competitors will be issued with pre-numbered boards, which must be returned on the day to the designated collection point - there will be a fine of £5 for lost boards. Independent paddlers and non-BC-affiliated teams may be required to leave a returnable deposit when the boards are issued. Pins are provided. Please do NOT tape your board to the boat - sticky numbers will issued for GPs and any other boats which do not have number board holders.
Insurance: A BC membership number and expiry date must be given for every entry. For many paddlers this will be a Club Associate Number (all members of BC-Affiliated clubs who do not have a paid BC membership should be registered with BC as Club Associates - speak to your club about how to do this if they have not registered you). Anyone not able to provide a verifiable BC number before racing will need to purchase BC Competition Event Insurance ("Day Ticket" - £5).
Fee: £5 per seat for Juniors, £10 for Seniors. There are no late fees and no pre-payment is required.
Race numbers: Competitors will be issued with pre-numbered boards, which must be returned on the day to the designated collection point - there will be a fine of £5 for lost boards. Independent paddlers and non-BC-affiliated teams may be required to leave a returnable deposit when the boards are issued. Pins are provided. Please do NOT tape your board to the boat - sticky numbers will issued for GPs and any other boats which do not have number board holders.
Insurance: A BC membership number and expiry date must be given for every entry. For many paddlers this will be a Club Associate Number (all members of BC-Affiliated clubs who do not have a paid BC membership should be registered with BC as Club Associates - speak to your club about how to do this if they have not registered you). Anyone not able to provide a verifiable BC number before racing will need to purchase BC Competition Event Insurance ("Day Ticket" - £5).
The Winter Series welcomes Paddle-Ability competitors (those with disability/impairment or long-term disabling illness, whether physical, sensory, or intellectual). The online entry system does not collect this information - to be eligible for a "first Paddle-Ability" medal in each class, or to be allowed to "paddle down" to a more suitable age class, the team leader should contact Secretary@FlatwaterRacing.org.uk in advance of the first race of the series that the paddler will attend.
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.
