This Sunday saw the first of the new season of Hasler racing for Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club, taking place at Chelmsford Canoe Club.
The only paddler on the 12-mile course was Mike Martin in division 3 singles, who had 10 portages (canal locks to run around while carrying the boat) and came in 3rd.
On the 8-mile course there were 8 portages to contend with and in division 4 singles Ben Stratford came 4th while Adam Baker had an altercation with another paddler which caused a swim close to the finish however still came 8th. The division 4 doubles race was won by Jodie Barrell and Paul Stenning.
The division 5 doubles race was won by Katy Dixon and Josh Power, followed by Reggie Elliott and Beth Goodlad in 4th and Adam Kear and Charlie Toosey in 8th.
In the division 6 singles race the newly promoted Sam Legg, in his first race over the 8-mile course came 2nd while the also newly promoted Leon Dixon came 8th. In the division 6 doubles race Amanda Morris and Bryan Handsley came 5th.
On the 4-mile course, which also included 2 portages and is unusual for this distance to include portages so was an added challenge for these paddlers, in the division 7 singles race Joseph Galliers came 5th while Ollie Power came 17th. The division 7 doubles race was won by Charlotte Ellis and Amy Carter, this being Amy’s first kayak race.
In division 8 Mandy Hussey came 6th in the singles race while in the doubles race Catherine Guy and Carly Hudson came 2nd. In the division 9 race Steve Hodkinson, in his first kayak race, came 2nd.
The division 10 race is specifically for under 12 paddlers who are moving out of the shorter lightening races, but they race over the 4-mile course which included the two portages. In their first races over this distance Megan Pickering came 2nd and Kayleigh Dixon came 3rd.
In the lightening races, which take place over 2 miles the under 12 girls was won by Nicola Kear.
This strong performance puts Leighton’s paddlers in a strong position for the coming year.
