Flat water racing could be regarding as one of the club’s “Specialist Subjects”. There are a significant number of very experienced racers in the club including Sam Rees-Clark (Marathon and Sprint) and her brother Mike Rees-Clark (Wild Water) who are currently representing GB.
All racing paddlers start at the bottom and work their way up to the level that matches their ability given the time and commitment that they can give to the sport. At BCCC we are always looking to bring on new racers and develop their potential so if you think you are interested then contact one of our experts below.
What You Need To Know
The Distances
Paddlers in Divisions 7, 8 and 9 race over a course of about 6.5km (4 miles). Divisions 4, 5 and 6 race over a course of about 13km (8miles) and Divisions 1, 2 and 3 over 20km (12miles). Despite being referred to as marathon racing, only the most able competitors at national and international level, paddle over the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles.
If you are under 12 then you can enter races in boats called Lightnings, which are strong, stable craft ideal for young people under 12 years old and under 60 KG. The distance raced is typically 2 miles. Every regional Hasler race has events for Lightnings in the Under 12 and Under 10 categories for both boys and girls.
The actual distances may vary a little from event to event, largely due to the safe and accessible length of water available to race on. Most races in Divisions 1-6 have portages which means you have to get out of your boat and walk or run whilst carrying your boat around the obstacle such as a weir or lock before getting back into your boat to continue the race. If there is no natural obstacle, an “artificial” portage is inserted. There are usually no portages in the Div 7-9 races.
The Equipment
Boats
Basically the longer and narrower the boat, the faster it will be but narrower means less stable and the length is limited by international rules. BCCC has a wide variety of flat water racing boats suitable for beginners and improvers alike, from fast tourers to full racing craft (with a rudder operated by your feet via a tiller bar). For clarity, the boats are described as K1/C1’s or K2/C2’s where K is for Kayak and C is for Canadian. A K1 is a single racing boat, K2 a double and a K4 has 4 paddlers. Before using a club boat, please read the BCCC equipment usage policy
Paddles
Very few racing paddlers use a standard asymmetric paddle. All our racing paddlers use the wing paddle blade from the start of the Introduction to Flat Water Racing course and in training. The Club has a large assortment of wing paddles available in various lengths and sizes for members to use before they opt to purchase their own.
Buoyancy Aids
If you are under 16, you must wear a buoyancy aid for a race as well as in training and all paddlers ranked in Divisions 9, 8 and 7, whether they are under 16 or not, must also wear a buoyancy aid when racing.
The Races
Marathon races
These are held all over the country throughout the year, usually on Sundays. Competitors have an official Marathon Division Ranking from 1 to 9 or Lightning Class. New competitors start in Division 9 (or Lightning Class for those Under 12), and progress through the divisions by winning their race or achieving a time that would be competitive in the next higher division. To find out more about marathon racing in Great Britain, go to the Marathon Canoe Racing UK website.
Hasler Trophy
The Hasler Trophy racing season is from April to the end of October. Each participating British Canoeing-affiliated club is in a region. We are in the Southern region. Clubs in each region offer to run a race in the Hasler series championship. Clubs in that region enter their paddlers in each of the Hasler races within their region and they gain points for their finishing position in their race i.e. winner 20 points, second 19 points and for K2 crews; winner 40 points etc. Points per club are gained at each race and the top 4 clubs in each region then compete at the Hasler Final in September where they meet other clubs from all around the country.
Other Marathon Races
Apart from the Hasler races, there are other marathon races throughout the year including the gruelling 125 mile Devizes to Westminster race held over the Easter weekend and the Waterside Series and Thameside Series which precede it. There is also the National Marathon Championships which are based on male and female age groups from Under 10 to Over 69 in K1 and K2. Dates for all the events can be found in the Marathon Racing Committee Racing Calendar
Details of our local races can be found in the Races section.
What To Wear
Flat water racers do not expect to fall in so a wet suit will be too hot and uncomfortable (even in winter) and arm movement could be restricted. For newcomers to flat water racing advice on what to wear can be found in the details for the Introduction to Flat Water Racing Course.
How To Start
Get in a boat and paddle!
Attend an Introduction to Flat Water Racing course
Details of these courses can be found on our flat water racing training page.
Train regularly
The BCCC flat water racers train formally to a pre-determined schedule on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 17:30 and on Saturday at 09:00. Informally, groups of paddlers of similar ability may come together for training at other times by agreement. Further details are here.
Enter the Hare & Hounds
As part of the training schedule there is a Hare & Hounds event on the third Saturday morning of each month. Paddlers race against the clock over 2, 4 or 6 miles and, hopefully, improve their times with training and the coaching that we can provide.
Find out more
For further details about flat water racing at the BCCC, feel free to contact one of our racing coaches below who will be able to guide you in getting started: