LEIGHTON BUZZARD CANOE CLUB
REMEMBRANCE DAY RACE
SUNDAY 8th NOVEMBER 2026
THIS IS A CHARITY EVENT. PROFITS GO TO THE ROYAL BRITSH LEGION
START LOCATION Great Linford Memorial Hall, Marsh Drive, Great Linford, Milton Keynes MK14 5AX. Car Parking, Toilets & Refreshments will be available.
FINISH LOCATION Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club, at the rear of Cedars School / Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre, Mentmore Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE. Car Parking, Toilets & Refreshments will be available.
CLASSES This event is open to kayaks, canoes and SUP’s.
- Class A - Marathon Divisions 1,2 &3 (K1/K2)
- Class B - Marathon Divisions 4, 5 & 6 (K1/K2)
- Class C - Marathon Divisions 7, 8 & 9 (K1/K2)
- Class D - Canoes and other single bladed paddle craft (C1/C2)
- Relay – Teams of two crafts (k1s or k2s)
NOTE: Where paddlers in a K2 are not in the same division the class will be that of the average ranking. The pairings can be male, female or mixed.
COURSE The course is 15 miles with 4 portages. It is a paddle back course, starting at Great Linford Wharf, Milton Keynes, MK14 5AX. Bridge Number 77. Paddlers will head south and finish at the Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club landing stage. For relay teams: leg 1 will be 6.5 miles with no portages and leg 2 will be 8.5 miles with 3 portages.
TIMING CHECK-IN 09:00 – 10:00
BRIEFING 10:15
START 11:02
The Start will follow the two minutes silence for Remembrance Sunday. The start order will be Class A, Class B, Class C, Relay and Class D or at the discretion of the starter.
BOOKING IN This will take place in the Memorial Hall at Great Linford.
FEES £12.00 per seat for Senior paddlers and £10:00 for Juniors.
No Late Entries.
Entries to be made via the online entry booking system – entries.gbcanoemarathon.co.uk
PAYMENT online as above on STRIPE or by BACS (Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club Sort code 53-70-11 Account Number 72909471)
NUMBERS Pre-printed number boards will be supplied at check-in on the day.
RULES Races will be held in accordance with PUK Marathon Committee Rules. Approved buoyancy aids must be worn by all paddlers ranked in Divisions 7, 8, 9 or Geoff Sanders.
It is recommended that all paddlers wear buoyancy aids irrespective of the division in which they are ranked. All paddlers may be required to wear buoyancy aids if the Race Organiser deems it necessary due to the prevailing conditions. (Please ensure that you bring yours with you).
Relay Race – The relay race may be made of up two crafts whether they are K2s or K1s. The first leg of the relay will be from Great Linford Wharf to Fenny Lock with the second leg being from Fenny Lock to Leighton Buzzard.
Any Teams competing within the Relay MUST have a designated support crew and be present on the change over.
The number board will be the baton which must be passed on and visible on the boat at the start, change over and finish.
WEBSITE Updates and information will be published on the LBCC website www.lbcc.org.uk
PARTICIPATION Canoeing and Kayaking are “Assumed risk” - “Water contact sports” that may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement. The canal, like rivers, present a small risk to paddlers of contracting Weils Disease. If flue type symptoms persist after contact with the water, please seek medical advice.
WEIL’s DISEASE We would like to bring to the attention of all participants of the event the dangers of water-borne diseases particularly Weil’s Disease.
Unlike tap water, the water in canals, rivers and reservoirs is untreated and micro-organisms are naturally present. However, although the risk of contracting illness is extremely small, sensible precautions should be taken as follows; avoid full immersion in the water, cover all cutes and abrasions with waterproof dressings before contact with water, wash all exposed skin after contact with the water and before eating and do not put wet ropes, fishing lines or other objects in your mouth.
AWARDS Medals will be presented to the First, Second and Third placed paddlers in each quorate class soon after the race
RESULTS Results will be published on the LBCC website and the Canoe Marathon results page.
REFRESHMENTS Food and Drinks will be available at the Memorial Hall before the event starts as well as at Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club along with Paddlers’ food being available.
ENTRIES CLOSE To be received by 8pm on THURSDAY 5th November 2025
CANCELLATION In the event of the cancellation of this event, team leaders will be contacted, and an announcement will be made on the Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club website. www.lbcc.org.uk
Also on the Canoe Marathon entry page.
CONTACT Bethany Goodlad and Elaine Breslin
raceorganiser@lbcc.org.uk