Racing

At Bradford on Avon Canoe Club, kayak racing is what we do and always have done.

Flatwater kayaking is split into two disciplines; marathon and sprint. We have an active racing squad with a particular focus on marathon racing, but a history in both disciplines.

Read on to find out a bit more about both…

Marathon Racing

Marathon canoe racing very similar to marathon road racing. It is a fun, but challenging endurance outdoor sport, happening across the country on rivers, lakes and canals. You can race kayak or canoe. Marathon racing offers progressive challenges from a couple of miles to the ultimate challenge of the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race. As you learn more boat handling skills, it becomes tactically as well as physically challenging, with boats racing in groups and contesting sprint finishes.

The Canoe Marathon Racing UK website has further information and can be found here.

Hasler Series

Regional and National Marathon Races.

The Hasler Series is named after Herbert ‘Blondie’ Hasler, who led Operation Frankton, a WW2 commando raid in double kayaks on the port of Bordeaux. The story of this raid was made into a 1955 film, The Cockleshell Heroes.

The Hasler Trophy is the National Team League Championships for marathon canoeing. Clubs compete within their regions (ours is the South West region), throughout the season to win the right to race at the Hasler Final, held in September each year. Being a team trophy, canoeist and kayakers from beginners through to advanced paddlers have the chance to race in their respective divisions and win valueable points for their club.

In Hasler races, canoeists and kayakers race on flat water across nine divisions and over distances of 4 to 12 miles (for beginners through to advanced paddlers respectively). In a regional competition;

• Divisions 9 to 7 race 4 miles,

• Divisions 6 to 4 race 8 miles, and

• Divisions 3 to 1 race 12 miles.

Some races include portages, which is where competitors get out of the boat, run round an obstacle of some sort, typically a lock, before getting back in and carrying on. Paddlers may compete solo or in doubles, in kayaks (K1s and K2s) or canoes (C1s and C2s).

At Bradford on Avon Canoe Club, we consistently perform well in the Hasler Series, and boasted second at the National Hasler Final in 2023.

Waterside Series

Four Weekends of Winter Time Trials

The Waterside Series is recognised as being the classic build up for the Devizes to Westminster Race (DW). However, this series offers its own challenge, and to complete it is an achievement in itself. The series is run on a time-trial basis, boats departing on their own at 30 to 60 second intervals. It is run over four weekends early in the year and covers much of the Devizes to Westminster course along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

• Waterside A: Great Bedwyn to Newbury, 13.5 miles, 21 portages.

• Waterside B: Newbury to Aldermaston & back, 17.5 miles, 19 portages.

• Waterside C: Pewsey to Newbury, 23 miles, 35 portages.

• Waterside D: Devizes to Newbury, 34 miles, 35 portages.

The series website can be found here.

Devizes to Westminster

125 Miles - the ultimate endurance event

The ‘DW’, for the uninitiated, is a 125 mile canoe marathon held every Easter weekend between Devizes in Wiltshire and finishing just downstream of Westminster Bridge in central London, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

The race is a severe test of skill, physical and mental stamina and planning which produces a memorable sense of achievement for those that successfully completing it.

More information can be found at the race website here.

Sprint Racing

Have you seen kayak and canoe sprint racing? Have you watched it during the Olympics and Paralympics? Do you want to give it a try?

There are 4/5 national sprint regattas each year and are held over weekends at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham.  There is a tiered racing system at most regattas, meaning you race people your own speed. However, there is a minimum standard of speed you must reach to qualify to race in Nottingham (please speak to the Commodore or Vice Commodore for more information on this). Paddlers are ranked in classes based on gender, age and ability. There are 4 age groups: Under 12 years, Juniors (12-18 years), Seniors and Masters (over 34 years). Apart from the Under 12s, each age groups are divided into 4 classes (A-D) based on speed. Sprints are raced over 200 m, 500 m, 1000 m and 5 km in singles (K1) as well as crew boats (K2 and K4).

The Canoe Sprint Racing UK website has further information and can be found here.

Racing Calendar

Please see the National Racing Calendar below:

Useful websites and communications

Race Entries

All race entries in the UK can be made from the British Canoeing entries website.

Equipment and clothing

Macron for official BOACC club clothing.

Kirton Kayaks for boats and accessories.

Marsport for boats, accessories and clothing.

Icon for clothing, boats and accessories.

Race Pace for UK importer of Knysna South African boats, paddles and accessories.

Ultimate Kayaks for paddles and accessories, also Nelo UK distributor.

Racing Canoe Clubs ‘ Sales and Wants’ Facebook Page for sales of boats, equipment and clothing.

Club/National Social Media

We have two Facebook pages, one public and the other members only.

BOACC_Official for our canoe club’s instagram page

Racing Canoe Clubs Facebook Page for National flatwater kayaking information.

We also have a club WhatsApp group which members can be invited to on request.