MARATHON RACING COMMITTEE

NEWSLETTER WINTER 2019

2019 IN NUMBERS THIS GIRL CAN Women in marathon GOING LONG 1 Bronze Medal at the It’s that time of year again, one reflects on British Marathon WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS for Lizzie Broughton too many at the club Kayaking back in the 1970s. approximate Christmas party and you wake the “Marathon racing was very 9000 number of race entries in next morning with that vague different in the 1970's. Clubs the Hasler and National sense of dread on top of the generally hosted weekend events Championships this year pounding headache.. Did I? Did I with a sprint regatta on the 2600 approximate really agree to DW this year? Saturday and a marathon on the number of UK paddlers competing this season Although it’s not a decision we Sunday. No divisions existed then, Participants at the take lightly (well most of us), the and in many races women were 664 Hasler Finals in ability to expected to Southampton choose to wear “MARATHON RACING 3.45 average number enter the buoyancy of races entered per WAS VERY DIFFERENT IN THE paddler during the season World’s aids. longest non- 1970S, WOMEN WERE Needless to 17 was the largest number of races entered stop canoe EXPECTED TO WEAR say, I was by a single paddler. Ali race, from disqualified Kabeer of Wokingham, BUOYANCY AIDS… NEEDLESS who completed all but to a number of one of these! Westminster, is TO SAY I WAS DISQUALIFIED times. Once 5 Junior Development something A NUMBER OF TIMES” I was Squad national and that most threatened regional training events held female marathon kayaking with disqualification for people have athletes take for granted. And questioning the rationale, but as I 132 completed coaching why not? Women have been actually won the event beating a courses subsidized by the MRC over the last 2 years taking part for years, and in the number of men, they must have last 4 years the event has twice decided I knew what I was doing 30,000 pounds raised by the MRC racing been won by a Mixed Crew, at as they reinstated me… levy speeds the vast majority of mens At this time women couldn't 90% of MRC budget doubles can only dream about enter the watersides or DW. I had expected to be spent on (Broughton/Moule 16hr40 2015, no interest in DW preferring sprint funding our GB athletes to compete at International Lane/Seaford 18h01 2019). distances, but along with my K2 events. Other MRC Equality in our sport has come a partner Christine Haynes, from expenditure includes coaching, race entry long way. Frances Wetherall, two software, website and communications. times Sprint Olympian

[Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]

NEWSLETTER WINTER 2019

Royal Canoe Club, decided to do Pictured Left; Frances and the to show that Christine racing the watersides in women were just as capable as ‘Bert’. They entered under false the men (We were both already names and hoped the caps and operating at World Championship oversize cags would prevent level so we were training far more organizers from noticing that they than many of the men in the were not men! race). A couple of years later Sheila Burnett, another sprint mixed K2 but was disqualified on The question is now, how long until Olympian (Cambridge) became base of sex bias].. This was the an all female crew will bring home the first woman to complete the same time period when women a DW race victory? DW...[NB she completed the [in athletics] were fighting to run overnight race in 1971 as part of a Marathons.”

RACMAN STOCKING FILLERS An update from Dan Seaford and Tom Sharpe Looking for something to Racman Review team look to stabilize and keep you warm on the In a flash we see the end of the improve on the base product River this winter? Here first domestic race season with while outlining a road map for are our top picks: Racman and what a season, the future; developing the The Pro X base layer with over 70 races in various software further, writing from ICON sports is their formats: Hasler, Age Groups and training/support material and seasons best buy – with National Championship. With a making the online entry system windproof front to beat rapid learning curve for race available at more races. We will the chill. organisers, team leaders and also be looking to provide a the Racman development public forum for capture Marsport’s two biggest team. We also saw the trial of feedback and future sellers are dryrobes (ideal for staying warm centralised online entry system development. during briefing, or for our largest events of the year. changing under in a Thank you carpark!) and vaikobi What next? A quick thank you to all the cold storm pants The focus of the last 11 months testers, team leaders and race which are in fact has been about getting basic organise who have had to learn thermal leggings, and not thermal knickers, up and working, this has been at throughout the year as Racman despite the name! the cost of some of the other evolved, providing important activities, like training material. feedback. For the most extreme This winter the plan is to be more conditions, you can’t structured, where the Racman get warmer than Reed chillcheater transpire fleece double thickness top. Originally designed for divers working in freezing temperatures, and now a favourite of the overnight DW crew. NEWSLETTER WINTER 2019

WHATS ON THIS WINTER JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT SQUAD Enjoy your Christmas feast.. there are The JDS enters its second year of running, and plenty of races and events coming qualification remains the same: up to burn off those mince pies..

Soar Valley CC Resolution Race Kayak Boys Girls (Leicestershire) 29th December 2019 U18 Div 3 Div 4 10 miles, 6 , 1 weir shoot. U16 Div 4 Div 5 Frank Luzmore K2 Race (SW London) Canoe Boys Girls 5th January 2020 13 Miles along the Thames, Elmbridge U18 Div 4 Div 5 CC to Richmond CC. U16 Div 5 Div 6 FRA Winter Series Races When a junior paddler reaches this standard, they can Chelmsford 12 January 2020 make an application to join the MRC JDS via the MRC Leighton Buzzard 26th January website. Leaside 9th February JDS dates for 2019: Linlithgow Winter Time Trial (Scotland)

12th January 2020 Initial 2020 Training Dates: See SCA website for details Yorkshire Cup Series Saturday 21 March - Elmbridge - national training day Race 1 (Ripon to Aldwark) 9th Saturday and Sunday 18/19 April - 2 day residential February camp, Longridge (limited numbers) Race 2 Calder Hebble Canoe Trail Saturday 30 May - Pangbourne - national training day 23rd February

Race 3 Ripon to York 22nd March JDS organisers would like to remind paddlers – that Waterside Series, Newbury A 16th February racing “up” a division is allowed, and encouraged, B 1st March especially for stronger Division 4 Juniors wanting to gain C 15th March experience the longer race distances. th D 29 March

Race 1 23rd February Race 2 8th March MERRY CHRISTMAS AND Royal Leamington Spa Hasler Race 15th March Weaver Descent Canoe Race HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM 22nd March Cambridge Hasler Race EVERYONE AT THE MRC 22nd March

NEWSLETTER WINTER 2019