Jessica Walker (front) and Anna Hemmings (back) in a
Women's K2 (kayak double)
Flat Water Racing - what is it?
Flat water racing is an Olympic discipline and racing takes place in singles, doubles and fours in both canoe and kayak classes. The Olympic distances are 500m and 1000m.
The Olympic classes/ events
C-1 500 m (canoe single) Men
C-1 1000 m (canoe single) Men
C-2 500 m (canoe double) Men
C-2 1000 m (canoe double) Men
K-1 500 m (kayak single) Men
K-1 1000 m (kayak single) Men
K-2 500 m (kayak double) Men
K-2 1000 m (kayak double) Men
K-4 1000 m (kayak four) Men
K-1 500 m (kayak single) Women
K-2 500 m (kayak double) Women
K-4 500 m (kayak four) Women
History of Flat Water Racing
Canoe sprint racing goes back to 1869, when John MacGregor organised the first regatta at the
"Canoe Club" he had founded in 1866 in London.
The first European Championships were held in 1933, in Prague. Canoeing became part of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, and sprint canoeing has been part of the Olympics ever since. The modern International Canoe Federation (ICF) was established in 1946, and today has 106 federation members.
The program of Kayak-Canoe sprint competition at Sydney 2000 included 12 events, 9 for men and 3 for women. Races were over distances of 1000m and 500m. Altogether there were over 200 crews and 275 competitors. The standard sprint program also includes events over 200m and 5000m. The most successful Olympic competitor was Sweden's Gert Fredericson, who between 1948 and 1969 captured 6 gold medals and one bronze.
Flat Water Racing - how do I get involved?
In Britain, racing is based around five national regattas at the National Water Sports Centre, in Nottingham, with an interclub championship and national championships included. There are also a number of local regattas run at various sites around the country during the racing season.
The 2008 National Regattas are
5th – 6th July, National Championship Regatta
6th – 7th September, Interclub Championship
Most paddlers enter racing through a club. They race as novices locally and at national regattas at junior and senior level, in classes for men, women and masters (over 35 years). These classes are graded according to ability. Full details of how to register as a competitor and take part in the BCU National regattas at the National Watersports Centre Nottingham email the Regatta Organiser, Peter Morley.
How can I get to international competition level?
The BCU Sprint Racing Committee, together with the management of the Lottery funded Sports Council’s World Class scheme, selects paddlers to train in the World Class Performance, Potential and Start programmes. This structure is designed to provide Great Britain teams for international competitions at junior (under 18), under 23 and senior level, for men women and Canadian paddlers, at World Cup, European, World and Olympic Championships. In addition, the Start programme caters for junior development through the canoe clubs and gives opportunities for international competition at club level.
Through working closely with UK Sport, funding has been secured to purchase two sets of 9 starting gates to be sited in the UK for use at the NWSC in Nottingham and ultimately, at Dorney Lake, Eton as well.
To obtain a copy of The Sprint & Marathon Racing Handbook, essential reference for all competitors can be obtained from Diane Bates by e-mail , via the eshop or by sending a cheque for £6.00 payable to
BCU Sprint Racing Committee
11 Cranley Road
Walton-on-Thames
Surrey KT12 5BX
Information on GB International teams and news can be found on the BCU's World Class website: http://www.worldclass-canoeing.org.uk/ including GB paddler profiles.
Tim Brabants - European Champion and Olympic medal winner
Men's K1 (kayak single)
James and Matthew Train in a C2 (canoe double)
For more information: www.worldclass-canoeing.org.uk
Athlete Websites www.timbrabants.com
www.annahemmings.com
2012 Olympic Flat Water Racing Venue: Eton Lake