marathon-canoeing.org.uk

The GB Marathon team had one of its best ever results at the 2009 World Championships with silver medals for Louisa Sawers and Ben Brown and bronze medals for Lani Belcher, Tom Daniels and Dean Terry.  We also fared well earlier in the summer at the European Championships with several strong performances and a well deserved bronze medal in the junior men's K2 for Jonnie Tye and James Webster.

Domestically we have had good racing and good support in most regions at the regional Hasler races and in the longer distance winter races.

So we look forward with enthusiasm to racing in 2010 and hope we can match or better the racing in 2009.

For 2010 we have dropped K2 races in divisions 1 and 2 at regional Hasler races.  Presently there are simply not enough paddlers to support these races but we hope that paddlers at this level will take the opportunity to race K2 at the assessment races, the National Championships and, subject to qualification, at the Hasler Final.

5K races are being introduced this coming year.  These will purposely be in a different format to encourage mass starts and close racing over the shorter distance.  The races we hold in 2010 will give us experience to build and develop this class of racing for the future.

We will also be introducing junior K2 races from September 2010 to run alongside Lightning races in an enlarged competition for the Geoff Sanders trophy.  Details will be announced later in the year.

We acknowledge that success at international, regional and club level relies on you - the paddlers, coaches and helpers who perform so many different roles.  Thank you all: the efforts you put towards the sport are truly much appreciated.

Brian Gandy

Chairman