What is Sprint Canoeing?
Flat Water Racing is one of the two Olympic disciplines in the
canoeing world; the other Olympic discipline is of course Slalom. Flat
water racing (also knows as Sprint racing) takes place on flat water courses
at regattas and is essentially a race between paddlers over measured distances,
usually 200m, 500m and l000m.
The races take place on a straight stretch of flat water on a lake, river
or canal wide enough to accommodate nine lanes which are usually marked
out with buoys with a boat in each separate lane. The racing kayaks and
canoes are lined up in a straight line and are raced and timed over the
distance. Racing takes place in singles, doubles and fours in both canoe
(C boats) and kayak (K boats) classes.
In a kayak the paddler is seated and uses a two bladed paddle. There are
classes for single kayaks - K1, doubles - K2 and fours – K4
In a canoe the paddler is kneeling on one knee using a single blade. There
are classes for single canoes - C1, doubles - C2 and fours – C4
In addition the boats have to conform to international standards and specifications
with regard to minimum weight (for example currently the minimum weight
for a K1 is 12kg).
As Ireland does not have a sprint course as such sprinting is usually held
over a measured distance on a time trial basis. In Britain, racing
is based around five regattas at the National Water Sports Centre, at Nottingham,
including national championships and a lot of Irish paddlers travel to
these events during the racing season. At the April regatta in 2007 for
example there was a big contingent of paddlers from Ireland mainly from
Salmon Leap and Celbridge Paddlers with the essential support crews. There
are classes for all ages and abilities at junior and senior level for men,
women, boys, girls and veterans, graded according to ability. For juniors
entering the sport he/she should be competent and capable of racing in
a boat and usually enter in boys or girls class D (beginners). Promotion
through the system to classes C, B and A is dependent upon times achieved
at the regattas and the classes are based on speed over a distance.
Most paddlers get an introduction to sprint racing through a canoe club.
Clubs in Ireland catering for it include Salmon Leap, Celbridge Paddlers,
Wildwater Kayak Club and Thomastown to name but a few. The Flat water racing
committee have a National Coach, Gabor Kulcsar (a former Hungarian World
champion himself who lives in Ireland) and his job is to train and prepare
the athletes who are on the National Squad for International competitions
and the qualifying event for the Olympic Games. Gabor sets the training
programmes for the athletes on the National Squad. The squad is based in
the Kildare and trains using the facilities at both Celbridge Paddlers
and Salmon Leap Canoe Clubs.
The Flat Water Racing Committee oversees and administers the sport in Ireland
and selects teams to represent Ireland at International competitions in
addition to the important role of liaising with the Irish Sports Council
and the Olympic Council of Ireland. 2007 is a very important year for Flat
water racing in Ireland with the first of the qualifying events in the
build up to the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.
So if you are interested in trying this out or wish to finding out more
about flat water in Ireland then contact your nearest canoe club one of
Committee members