Canoe Marathon - Maidstone Winter Series marathon 2026

Entries for this event have not yet opened. Checkout opens 2 days, 10 hours from now

Race Date: 22 Nov 2026
Race Type: Winter Series

Organising Club: Flatwater Racing Association
Organiser: Alan Nevard

ME16 0SN, Maidstone, Kent

Maidstone Winter Series marathon

Date: 22 November 2026

Location & Parking:
Maidstone CC clubhouse, Mill Meadow, St Peter's Street, Maidstone ME16 0SN

The club shares its site with Freedom Fitness - go through the railway arch from St. Peter's Street and the clubhouse is on the left. There is a numberplate-recognition system in place - you must enter your registration number in the terminal upstairs in the Clubhouse to avoid a parking charge!
If you are bringing a trailer, please contact the Race Organiser in advance.

We will ask competitors to unload their boats and then park in an adjacent car park.

(See also Maidstone CC website Where We Are)

Schedule:
10:00 - Check-in opens
11:00 - Check-in closes
11:30 - Race Briefing
12:00 - Start
15:00 - Prize-giving

Please note that class eligibility for this series is determined by age on 1st November 2026.
Juniors may enter older classes (on the same distance or longer), provided that their Team Leader agrees that they are competent to do so – Race Organisers may prohibit this if they have safety concerns.

Classes with low entries will be grouped - this will not affect points or medals.

The start order of classes will not necessarily follow class number order - the list of pre-entries and the expected start order will be made available on the day using a QR code.

Distances at this race:
Classes 1-10 - 9 miles - 2 portages
Classes 20-25 - 5 miles - 0 portage
Classes 30-40 - 3 miles - 0 portage

Class 1-10 to Teston and back with portage at East Farleigh
Class 20 -25 to East Farleigh Lock and return.
Class 30 -40 to Tovil bridge. Start at the Canoe Club, head DOWNSTREAM, opposite to the other Classes, paddle to Blue Bridge approximately 500 metres away, turn go up stream as far as Tovil Bridge, turn and cross start finish line at the club.

See attached PDF for course map.

Entering:

If you are part of a club team, your Team Leader may intend to place your entry and/or pay in bulk - please check with them.
Payments for entries by individuals or clubs are made by as cash on the day (alternatively, as cheque made out to Flatwater Racing Association). Clubs may arrange to pay electronically in advance by special arrangement with the FRA Treasurer Treasurer@FlatwaterRacing.org.uk (such payments must be completed by midnight Friday)

Note: All paddlers must be current members of Paddle UK (personal or Club Associate), *or* must additionally purchase PUK "Single Event Membership" (SEM) for £5. This can be done during the online entry process. If you are a member of a Paddle UK affiliated club, please speak to your team leader before puchasing SEM as you may already have Club Associate Membership.
Please send any queries about entries to Secretary@FlatwaterRacing.org.uk

For queries on other matters, please contact the Race Organiser

The Winter Series welcomes Paddle-Ability competitors (those with disability/impairment or long-term disabling illness, whether physical, sensory, or intellectual). The online entry system does not collect this information - to be eligible for a "first Paddle-Ability" medal in each class, or to be allowed to "paddle down" to a more suitable age class, the team leader should contact Secretary@FlatwaterRacing.org.uk in advance of the first race of the series that the paddler will attend.

Seat Fees:

Juniors (u18 on previous 1st January) £5

Seniors £10

There are no late fees or penalties for cancellation

Number Boards:

Pre-printed number boards will be issued for K1/K2 classes (£5 fee for if not returned - under some circumstances a deposit may be required), and sticky number for C1/C2s and GPs. Please ask if you prefer a board for a C1/C2 or a sticky number for a K1/K2 with no board holder.

Photos:

The host club and the FRA will use photographs taken at the event to promote the club and the sport on the grounds of legitimate interest. This will be done in accordance with current Paddle UK guidelines.

Welfare:

Event Welfare Officer: Marty Vincent welfare@maidstonecanoeclub.net

First Aid:

First Aid Officer: Alan Nevard alannevard@btinternet.com

Safety:

Safety Officer: Peter Lott

All participants must be capable of swimming 50m in racing clothing.
Footwear should be worn by all participants, and clothing appropriate for the weather conditions on the day.
Buoyancy aids must be worn by all paddlers not ranked in divisions 1-6 and all paddlers under age 16 irrespective of divisional ranking and all paddlers taking part in an u16 class.
Access to the river is normally via steps down to a landing stage. The area above the landing stage is unfenced, please keep children away from this edge.
Access for the race will be via the slipway.
Please adhere to requests from the site team and marshals who will guide paddlers to the water.
Any person on the landing stage must wear a suitable buoyancy aid.
Canoeing and kayaking is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk.

Environmental Issues:
Please ensure you follow Check-Clean-Dry protocol to prevent the cross-contamination of waterways with invasive species.

Facilities:

Changing rooms and showers available in the clubhouse.

Refeshments:

Competitors food will be provided after the race.

Rules & Series information

See http://www.FlatwaterRacing.org.uk/winter-series.html

In particular please acquaint yourselves with the full Winter Series rules (attached), especially those for portages

Privacy:

Race entries will be handled centrally by the FRA. Information will be shared with the Marathon Racing Committee (MRC) & Race Organisers.

Race Results:

Provisional results will be published via a QR code as they accumulate and as a print-out when complete. A further 15 min will be allowed for protests/queries before prizegiving. Results will appear on the FRA website, and this will be updated with promotions once these have been calculated by the MRC.

The organisers reserve the right to alter any of these arrangements without prior notice should the weather, river or other circumstances warrant it.

Race Terms & Conditions

Entry Details

Races

Winter Series Races