The ECA announced this week the cancellation of the 2020 Marathon Championships. Their full statement is here.
MADCC Adelphi Hasler Race – Cancelled
A message from Macclesfield and District Canoe Club.
Regrettably, due to Covid restrictions and the unassailable difficulties we will have in running this on our narrow canal and towpath as a Hasler race, we will have to cancel our event this October 2020.
SUSPENSION OF HASLER INTER-CLUB POINTS UNTIL JANUARY 2021
As the sport tentatively approaches a return to racing, Hasler races may start to happen again this autumn if the organisers are able to take appropriate COVID safety precautions.
However with local lockdowns some clubs may not be able to attend races at other venues, some may not feel ready to travel, and race formats may need to be adapted to COVID needs.
Therefore, the MRC has decided that Hasler club points will not be awarded in any races until the start of 2021.
Continue reading “SUSPENSION OF HASLER INTER-CLUB POINTS UNTIL JANUARY 2021”
National marathon racing events
The MRC, and Reading CC have decided that it will not be possible, at this stage, to run the national “return to racing” event provisionally planned for 4th October.
While it may be possible to run a format which limits the size of groups racing, ensuring that national events are COVID-safe “on the bank” is more complicated. The riverside at Reading is publicly owned and open to the public. Events which do not involve national or cross-regional travel, or where large on-the-bank gatherings can be avoided, also constitute a lower risk while the virus still needs to be controlled.
The MRC is nevertheless working with Regional Marathon Advisors to identify ways we can get clubs racing each other again, even if at a local level at this stage.
Survey on Gender Equality in Marathon
The MRC are supporting a racer and student Jessie Urquhart, who is researching gender equality in our sport as part of her studies. The issue was debated at our last MRC meeting and feedback from this survey will inform debate at the next one.
Please click on this link to take the survey – it’s for everyone not women only.
Return to Racing and Events
Following the government announcement on 9th July, British Canoeing has announced that planning can now begin for the reintroduction of competitions and events in England from 1st August 2020.
Detailed information and links can be found here.
Race Cancellations
Due to the on-going uncertainties with Covid-19, Pangbourne CC have taken the decision to cancel their 2020 Hasler race which was due to run on 13 September.
Banbury and District CC have also cancelled their Hasler race (25 October) due both to the virus and the building works in the town restricting access to the water, thus making it unlikely it could be run safely.
Canoe Marathon Annual Consultative Meeting, 6pm Sat 11th July
Details on how to join the ACM meeting online are below. Please read the meeting notes before joining.
***Password: 356212***
Continue reading “Canoe Marathon Annual Consultative Meeting, 6pm Sat 11th July”
Change to Hasler Points system
The MRC has decided to change the system of Hasler Point allocation, with effect from the new season on 1st September. This change has been published in the 2020 marathon rules including the Racing Handbook.
From 1st September, the system will allocate 50 points per seat for a win, as opposed to the current 20. Points will fall by one per place as currently, up to the cut-off of 110% of the race winner’s time, after which all finishers receive 1 point. Other rules relating to point scoring remain unchanged.
The change is designed to encourage paddlers to continue to race for club points in bigger races (i.e. where there are more than 20 starters)
The Marathon Racing Committee
The Marathon Racing Committee exists to encourage club, regional, national and international marathon canoeing events.
The MRC committee comprises members elected by racing clubs at the Annual Consultative Meeting (usually held at the National Championships), and each member serves a two-year term (excepting the Chair who serves a one-year term). Its regulations can be downloaded here: MRC REGULATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION
The MRC meets several times a year. If you have any questions or issues to raise, please contact the Chairman or Secretary. Members for 2019-20 are as follows:-
Stan Missen (Chair), Bradford on Avon CC
Mick Nadal (Vice Chair, Rules, Regions Co-ordinator, Event Safety), Nottingham KC
James Smythe (Secretary, Chair of Selection Committee, Comms), Bishops Stortford CC
Siobhan Urquhart (Comms, Jnr Athlete Development), Banbury CC
Kat Wilson (Safeguarding, Selection Committee, Snr Athlete Development), Reading CC
Nanette North (Club Development, Comms), Cambridge CC
David Enoch (Treasurer, Selection Committee), Nottingham KC
Scott Hynds (Coaching), Elmbridge CC
Roland Lawler (Rankings, Selection Committee)
Dyson Pendle (Selection Committee, Intl Kit)
Tom Sharpe (Race Management, Intl Event Planning), Richmond CC
Graham Warland (Intl Logistics, Calendar, Race Records, Race Organiser Liaison), Banbury CC
Dan Seaford (Race Management), Reading CC
Richard Ward (Coaching), Exeter CC
David Sackman (Intl Logistics), Reading CC