National Schools Canoe Championships 2025

The National Schools Canoe Championships are jointly organised by the Devizes to Westminster (DW) Race Organisation and the Paddle UK Marathon Racing Committee to promote schools canoeing in the UK by providing an event specifically for inter-school competition.

It provides the opportunity for racing against paddlers from other school teams, particularly for crews preparing for the DW season, both returning 2025 crews and new crews making preparations for 2026.

The below information and rules govern the event and must be read by all participants, team leaders, school staff and support crew.

Entry Criteria & Eligibility:

We encourage building partnerships between schools and clubs, where clubs provide an organised sporting activity to supplement school resources and staff.

Entry is open to Schools who:

• compete in the annual Waterside, Thameside and DW Races, and/or:

• wish to further their experience of canoe and kayak racing by promoting paddlesport as a sporting activity within the school

To be eligible, the School must demonstrate an active commitment to paddlesport and involvement in the preparation for the crew as follows:

• Kayaking/Canoeing is listed as an available sport on the school website or prospectus and actively part of the co-curriculum programme

• Entry form must be signed by a member of staff who will be in attendance on the day of the championship as team leader

• Payment for entries must be submitted by the school

Pre-approved schools are currently registered as "clubs" on the entries form. Any school not already listed that wishes to submit entries for approval and believe they meet the above criteria should contact the race organisers as soon as possible to seek approval.

Entry fees are £15 per seat, including all racing costs (venue, safety cover, etc.)

Entries and fees should be submitted per the instructions on the new entry process on the MRC entry system and must be received by Monday 10th November at 11:59pm GMT.

Payment in advance must be made directly by the entering school via bank transfer: 54-30-33 37681095

Paddlers must be a current registered pupil of the School they represent. They must be under the age of 19 years, and not less than 13 years old (unless approved by race organisers), on the 1st of January 2025.

Class eligibility is determined as follows:

• Experienced Class – at least one of the crew has completed one event of the Waterside/Thameside Series or DW in the previous season and/or or has a divisional marathon racing ranking in division seven or above

• Novice Class– neither member of the crew has previously competed in the Waterside/Thameside Series or DW, and have been paddling for less than one year

School teams are to be nominated via email to the event organisers by Thursday 13th November 16:00. Teams can contain three or four crews from the same school, where the fastest three boats in the marathon race will count towards the overall result. No other team combinations or late submissions will count. Adjustment can be made based on illness or injury at check-in on the day.

Classes & Distances:

All Races will be Junior Doubles, raced in K2 or C2 in both Experienced and Novice Classes:

• Sprint Regatta: roughly 200M and 500M

• Marathon Race: roughly 15 KM

• Novice Class Marathon race of roughly 10KM

Individual and Team Prizes will be awarded. A full list of trophies is published below.

Venue:

Hawley Lake Sail Training Centre
3 RSME Regt, Gibraltar Barracks
Blackwater, Camberley
Surrey GU17 9LP

EVENT FORMAT & TIMINGS:

08:45

Arrival & Check-In Open

Please do not arrive at the site earlier. Check-in can be found within the Club House.

09:15

Team Leader Briefing

Will take place in the Club House.

10:00

Sprint Races

Race 1: Seeding Heats
Race 2: 500M Time Trial
Race 3: 200M Knock-Out Competition.
(Each Race has separate starts for Novice Class)

12:30

Lunch

Please bring your own lunch but some bacon rolls and hotdogs will be available in the club house.

13:30

Marathon Races

Courses will comprise laps of the lake with buoyed turns and compulsory portages:
· Experienced Class Marathon Race – 15KM
· Novice Class Marathon Race – 10KM

15:30*

Prizegiving & Departure

*If not earlier.

Rules & Safety:

Races will be held in accordance with the Paddle UK Marathon Racing Rules.

Buoyancy Aids: ALL Competitors must wear an Integral Foam Buoyancy aid or lifejacket conforming to one of the following European standards: EN 393 or EN 395 or ISO12402-5 or ISO12402-6. The EN standard must be clearly displayed via a label attached by the manufacturer.

Safety: Competitors must be able to swim 50 metres in paddling kit.

Conduct: All crews and their supporters shall race in a fair and considerate manner and maintain a satisfactory standard of conduct throughout the event. Unsporting conduct by either paddlers or their supporters will be penalised. The decisions of the Organisers on all matters shall be final.

Disciplinary Matters: inappropriate behaviour by supporters and/or competitors will be penalised. Any failure to observe the rules or obey the instructions of any Race Official at any time may render the crew liable to disqualification or other penalty.

Boats & equipment: must contain sufficient buoyancy to support their crews in the event of capsize. Sandwich construction boats are not presumed to have sufficient inherent buoyancy and must carry additional foam or other non-porous buoyant material. Closed and water-tight compartments built in by the original manufacturer may be accepted at the discretion of the Organisers, but must have adequate buoyancy at both ends.

Risk: 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 actions and involvement.

Medical: Any relevant pre-existing medical conditions must be advised on the entry form.

Paddle UK Membership: All Competitors should be members of Paddle UK or relevant national governing body (Paddle Wales, Paddle Northern Ireland, Paddle Scotland)

The full event risk assessment can be found in the attached documents of this entry page. By submitting entries, Team Leaders from the relevant school are agreeing they have read it and agree with the control measures in place.

Please contact if you have any further questions or need further information:

• Gareth Scragg – Junior Teams Liaison, Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race

• Holly Mobbs – MRC Junior Development Lead

TROPHY LIST & ELIGIBILITY:

The following trophies will be awarded for crews that meet the eligibility criteria as defined below. All trophy recipients will be required to sign a receipt and guarantee of safe return on behalf of their school, before they can leave the event with their trophy.

Experienced Class

Sprint Trophy: 500M + 200M Knockout

- For the crew with the fastest combined time from 500M time trial and 200M knockout (must be in the final round of knockout to be timed).

Marathon: Individual Trophy

- For the fastest crew to complete the Experienced Class Marathon course.

Marathon: Ladies Trophy

- For the fastest ladies crew to complete the Experienced Class Marathon course.

Marathon: Mixed Crew

- For the fastest mixed crew to complete the Experienced Class Marathon course.

Marathon: Team Trophy

- For the fastest team of 3 crews (from 3 or 4 nominated crews) to complete the Experienced Marathon course.

Ladies Team Trophy

- For the fastest team of 2 crews (from 2 or 3 nominated crews) to complete the Experienced Marathon course.

C2 Marathon Trophy

- For the fastest crew to complete the Experienced Class Marathon course in a C2.

Novice Class

Sprint Trophy: 500M + 200M Knockout

- For the crew with the fastest combined time from 500M time trial and 200M knockout (must be in the final round of knockout to be timed).

Marathon: Individual Trophy

- For the fastest crew to complete the Novice Class Marathon course.

Marathon: Ladies Trophy

- For the fastest ladies crew to complete the Novice Class Marathon course.

Marathon: Mixed Crew

- For the fastest mixed crew to complete the Novice Class Marathon course.

Marathon: Team Trophy

- For the fastest team of 3 crews (from 3 or 4 nominated crews) to complete the Novice Marathon course.

Ladies Team Trophy

- For the fastest team of 2 crews (from 2 or 3 nominated crews) to complete the Novice Marathon course.

C2 Marathon Trophy

- For the fastest crew to complete the Novice Class Marathon course in a C2.