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SUPJUNKIE REPORTING :
Flat water
Due to circumstances beyond our control , the Cardiff race has had to be moved . This decision was completely out of our hands but we were determined that this great event would not be cancelled . It will now take place on the 25th September and will be the Finale in our flat water series . The silver lining is that we hope all those currently on the waiting list will be able to race . Racing takes place at the always popular Cardiff International White Water Centre .
The race at Central SUP has now been postponed to 2022 and we cannot wait to re-visit Chris Kenyon and his team in the Midlands .
THE GBSUP NATIONAL RACE SERIES 2021 Words : Sarah Thornely Photos : Supjunkie , Bronac McNeill , That Camera Man , Ollio Moss , Stephen Duncombe and RNLI / Nigel Millard
‘ BRING IT ON ’ we hear you shout loud and clear and who wouldn ’ t after the year we have just had with NO RACING in our 2020 National Series and most other races around the UK and worldwide cancelled due to … but hey , let ’ s not mention the ‘ C ’ word !
First , we have to applaud Edge Watersports for managing to put on one of the only big races of the Summer , the popular Ex Hammer in late September 2020 – a good turnout for them with people keen to get on the water in a competitive way . Congratulations to all those who raced , including Marie Buchanan and Blue Ewer taking top honours in the 14 ’ race board category – continuing where they left off in the GBSUP races of 2019 by both being crowned Flat Water Champs !
Back to our own National Series ; “ Following the Government Press Release on 22nd Feb , we are all cautiously ecstatic at the possibility of getting back on the water seeing all of our friends and making many new ones racing in the UK . We have a cracking series of races but have had to make some changes to the current race schedule ,” said Director Mark Price . “ We have a 10th anniversary to celebrate with the Battle of the Thames , three flat water distance races , three ocean technical races and back for a second time for the National Sprint Championships with British Canoeing in Nottingham . Please join us in keeping your fingers and webbed toes crossed for 2021 .”
That means that the 10th anniversary of the Battle of the Thames on 12th June will now be the first race of our flat water series . What a great way to start ! This should be a wonderful event , with the everhospitable Johncey family hosting with a drink or two afterwards to celebrate this anniversary issue .
The second flat water race will be held at Poole on the 26th June with our friends at BaySUP and it is at that same event we start our Ocean Series .
The Ocean Series
This series starts at the Battle of the Bay in Poole – this is another popular event where conditions can be challenging which is what our ocean-lovers like . BaySUP always put on a wonderful day for our GBSUP paddlers .
The next weekend sees us all head down to one of the most beautiful parts of the UK where Ocean Sports host the Celtic Cup at Carbis Bay on 3rd / 4th July – anyone who was there in 2019 will remember those incredible conditions and the colour of the sea – why would you not visit ? You can check out Supjunkie ’ s live fee of the 2019 distance race on the GBSUP website .
The finale of the Ocean Series sees us head almost to the other end of the country – properly up north ( you did ask !) where the Northern SUP Race Team will host a new race and venue , the Beadnell Belta in Northumberland on 21st August . Again , there will be some good technical ocean racing at this new event held over a weekend . It will be where the overall winners of the Ocean Series will be crowned so we guess there may be a party or two here as well .
Sprints
Sprints have always been popular with our racers and the British Canoeing event at Nottingham a few years ago saw us racing in lanes with start line ‘ buckets ’ – it was a whole new experience and it ’ s happening again in 2021 – 4 / 5th September sees
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