Sprint Racing
Sprint Racing is fun and may be enjoyed by people of all ages in any type of canoe. During the last few seasons, paddlers from 6 years to over 70 years of age took part.
Sprint boats are designed to travel fast in a straight line and are therefore are narrower and less stable than many other types of canoe. They come in single (K1), double K2) and quadruple types (K4). There are also equivalent classes for canoes, paddled with single blades in a high kneeling position.
The Centre of Excellence at the Lowport Centre in Linlithgow is used extensively for competition and training events throughout the year. It has been operating there since its opening in 1997.
Developments at Strathclyde Park are proceeding with a full time Development Coach base there and the proposal is to use the facilities at the park more frequently for both competition & training.
Sprint racing takes place over relatively short distances, usually 200, 500 and 1000 metres with races of 6,000 and 10,000 metres also run. In Scotland, regattas are held during the summer months at Kirkcaldy, Linlithgow, Broadwood Loch near Cumbernauld and at Strathclyde Park. Competitors from Scotland also travel to Nottingham to take part in British National regattas. Scottish junior paddlers have achieved considerable success in sprint racing representing GB in recent years.
Most races are open to all paddlers, however organisers may restrict entries at races where there are potentially hazardous conditions.
Sprint Racing is one of 2 Olympic Canoeing disciplines, the other being Slalom, and the SCA is working hard to improve our representation in this sport at these higher levels. With this in mind the SCA has appointed 3 Sprint Development Coaches - Kristina Medovcikova, Russell Daniels & Pete Easson who will be helping to coach at Club level as well as the running of the Scottish Development Squads with Kristina being the lead coach.
There are 3 levels of Squads run by the SCA
The highest level is the “National Performance Squad“ followed by the “National Development Squad”, then the “Regional Development Squads”.
There are a number of criteria for inclusion within these squads and these are clearly set out within the documents issued by the SCA, which can be downloaded here. The full details of the Olympic Pathways for talented athletes supported by the SCA can be viewed here.
Contacts:
Kristina Medovcikova - Email
Russell Daniels - Email
Pete Easson - Email
If you are interested in taking part, or would like to know more about canoe racing you can contact your local club or contact either Kristina or Russell.
Sprint Committee
The Sprint Committee members for the 2011-12 season are
- Chair – Margaret Chapman
- Treasurer – Graeme Busby
- Secretary – Cecile Redmond
- Brian Chapman
- Colin Smaill
- Graeme Busby
- Matthew Brickell
- Valerie Caldwell
- Carol Ferguson
Link to Roles & Responsabilities
Committee News Letters can be downloaded from the following links:
Committee Minutes are available for SCA members to download from the "Member Downloads" area in Self-Service - requires "log in".