SLCC JUNIOR SERIES RACE

Salmon Leap is holding it's Junior Series Marathon race on Saturday 13th March and we are hopeful that all the WWKC juniors who attend the pool sessions will come and try canoe racing. The skill level in the pool suggests that this should be not be a problem to them. We hope that the choice of races offered will suit all levels of ability and all boat types.

The new course will still make it possible to use boats with under stern rudders but will provide an opportunity for wild water boats and GP boats to shoot the Sluice weir. Most of the race takes place in a public park that has a footpath alongside the river, giving spectators an excellent view of the race. The start and finish are very close, so there is no ferrying of cars needed.We will also include a 'fun race' aimed at younger or very inexperienced juniors. This race will be less than 2km from below Sluice weir to above Lucan weir (downstream). No particular type of boat is specified for this class and an experienced paddler will accompany the competitors from start to finish. This fun race is aimed at all of the junior members of WWKC and other clubs, who haven't raced on a river yet in the hope that they will come and try river racing. Every paddler who takes part in any of the 3 races will get a good quality t-shirt (costing more than the entry fee) compliments of Salmon Leap.The main race will include a compulsory portage of the Sluice weir for K boat paddlers. Portages are an integral part of all international marathon races now and our juniors need to practise them. Boats with 'closed cockpits' may shoot the weir if they wish (GPs, WW boats, wavehoppers etc). This should help compensate for their relative lack of speed (if they stay upright).U15s can get help from one adult at the portage.Both the short and the long courses will start above Sluice weir and will race upriver beyond the footbridge, around a buoy and back to the Sluice. The long course will do another lap and portage or shoot Sluice weir (depending on the boat type), continue downriver, around a buoy above Lucan weir, head upriver and finish below Sluice weir. The short course will only do one lap above Sluice but the rest of the race will be the same as the long course.We hope that people will access the river above Lucan weir on the north side of the river, as parking is limited at the Sluice. Please make every effort to encourage junior paddlers to take part in our junior series races this year. If you have any questions, please contact Liam McCarthy at liamamccarthy@gmail.com" target="_blank" or phone 0876712307