It’s been a busy few weeks with the Spring racing season getting underway properly and club members taking part in various races.
Elmbridge Marathon Assessment Race
This was a hastily rescheduled event that took place on Sunday 16th March after the cancellation of Thameside 2. Richmond had 4 paddlers racing- in a large senior mens field Tom and Nick finished 3rd and 4th, one minute apart. Nick has subsequently been selected to race at the Waterlands marathon in Amsterdam as part of a BCU development team. Lizzie won the ladies race and Ollie, who was one of the youngest racers in the junior boys class, finished 10th.
Wey Sprints
There was a big junior contingent at this event last Saturday, and a few seniors as well. Time trials took place over 2km followed by races over 1000m, 500m, 200m and a relay event. Ben Powell was 4th quickest over the time trial and made the first final for the sprints. Lily was one of the quickest girls and Ben Phillips was quickest junior C1. There was a good turnout from the rest of the canoe group with Adrian, Arthur, Kiera, Jasmine and Gena also racing. Our lightnings raced well, this was the first race for some of them and Lilla and Francis made the first final with Emila, Thomas, Lara, and Hope also putting in encouraging performances. The rest of the junior team all performed well in their different classes gaining lots of 1st places in the races. It was also good to have a small group of seniors at the race- a mixture of parents, new paddlers and more experienced wanting to get some sprint practice under their belts.
Hare & Hounds 4
Held the day after Wey sprints there was a smaller team than usual but everyone who raced did well with a lot of PBs over the course. Over the 5km dashhounds course Emily and Isabella got the 2nd and 3rd fastest times, with Jasmine and Kyra putting in excellent C1 performances. On the full course we had 12 paddlers racing in C1, K1 and K2. Adrian broke the U14 C1 course record with a new PB.
Waterside C
A small team of 8 headed to Pewsey for this 23 mile race on Sunday 23rd, which included 34 portages and the 400m long tunnel. Richmond had a 1-2 in the senior mens class with Tom and James starting separately but finishing just 17 seconds apart, with Tom taking victory in 3:01:17 to James’ 3:01:34. In the senior ladies K1 class Lizzie won in 3:14:48, also taking 20 minutes off the existing course record. Just behind were Nettie and Rob who took 2nd in mixed K2 in 3:15, a good result for their first race together. Completing the Richmond line up were Eamon in K1 and Peter and Arnim in K2.
