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British Canoeing signs broadcast deal with Sky Sports

British Canoeing has announced the launch of Go Canoe! – a brand new series of eight programmes featuring canoeing that will be broadcast on Sky Sports throughout this summer.

The programmes will focus on the British athletes as they compete in the International Canoe Federation Slalom and Sprint World Cup events.

The series will also include tutorials – introducing the various disciplines within the sport, together with magazine features about clubs, trails, adventures and athletes.

Go Canoe! is being produced by Hit the Roof, with magazine contributions produced by MediaPack.

David Joy, chief executive of British Canoeing said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to work with Sky Sports to create this series of programmes. Go Canoe! will really showcase the excitement and breadth of Canoeing to a wide audience and is another step forward in the delivery of our new strategy Stronger Together.”

Hannah Brown, a two time World Champion in wild water racing, will feature in one of the episodes of Go Canoe! and is delighted that the sport will be aired on the Sky Sports channels.

“It is fantastic news that canoeing, including my discipline of wild water racing, will receive some brilliant exposure on Sky Sports. It really shows that there is an interest and a demand for canoeing on a national scale.

“It has been great to be involved in the series and have the opportunity to showcase wild water racing to the wider public who may not have seen or heard much about the sport before.

“I can’t wait for people to see how exciting and diverse the sport is. Such coverage is vital to the sport and hopefully will encourage more people to give it a go.”

The first Go Canoe! show will be broadcast on Sky Sports on Monday 24th July. The full schedule is as follows:

Programme 1            24 July 2017                     21:00
Programme 2            31 July 2017                     22:30
Programme 3            07 August 2017                    22:00
Programme 4            14 August 2017                    22:00
Programme 5            21 August 2017                    21:00
Programme 6            28 August 2017                    21:00
Programme 7            04 September 2017 21:00
Programme 8            11 September 2017         21:00

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Calder 1 race cancelled

Please be advised that The Calder1 race planned for July 9th will have to be cancelled. There is another event taking place on the navigation that weekend and it is not safe for us to be racing at the same time.

Regards,
Pete Lawton

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Annual Consultative Meeting – please register your nominated club voter

The Annual Consultative Meeting on Sat 29th July (at the Nationals) will include some important issues for discussion about the future of the sport, including:-

  • Our proposed plans for the next 4 years, including new coaching qualifications and networks for racing clubs
  • Proposed increase of the racing levy to £2.50/seat to cover these plans with a balanced budget
  • Whether promotions and demotions should be automatic or based more on request
  • Election of the Chair plus six MRC committee positions.

With lively debate and voting anticipated, please could clubs register their intention to attend along with the name of their chosen voter. All votes are on the basis of one CLUB, one vote. Registration is not compulsory but it will help us work out who is the voter if more than one person from a club attends.

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Safety and mutual responsibility in races

During the season so far, a number of incidents have been drawn to the attention of the MRC relating to capsizes. These may have been through instability, or lack of skill, consideration or unnecessarily aggressive behaviour on part of other paddlers.

The MRC would like to remind all paddlers, team leaders and race organisers of the following points:

  • Rule 5 iv) All paddlers are required to render assistance to other competitors in distress. – this means checking that a paddler in the water is able to cope with the situation well enough to get out of the water.
  • Rule 5 ii) Competitors must be able to swim adequately in the waters on which the race is being held. It is hoped that team leaders ensure that their paddlers know how to manage their boats when a capsize does occur, being able to swim to a place where emptying and re-entry are possible.
  • Should a paddler accidentally cause a capsize, it is expected that an apology and offer of assistance will be made.
  • Rule 6) DISCIPLINE – final paragraph – Race Organisers should note the powers in clause 2.1 of the Procedures to apply immediate discipline where members or competitors have displayed violent or unreasonable behaviour. (Marathon racing is subject to British Canoeing Marathon Racing Committee Disciplinary Regulations and to British Canoeing Disciplinary Code. See http://canoeracing.org.uk/marathon/index.php/disciplinarymatters/.)
  • Race organisers are reminded that the HRM system provides the facility for them to enter time penalties or allowances. Should a paddler delay their own race to render assistance, it would be appropriate to use this. Should evidence make it clear that a paddler has refused to assist or ignored a situation that may require assistance; organisers should take measured and appropriate action.
  • It is accepted that a young junior may not be able to offer greater assistance than a tow to the bank, or staying with the paddler while they swim, but it is expected that an adult paddler will be able to offer greater assistance particularly if the swimmer is a junior.
  • Race organisers are reminded that reference to Rule 5iv) must be included in their briefing.

It is in the interest of all paddlers that they learn to look after themselves and each other in race situations and it is also expected that team leaders ensure that this is the case.

MRC