Gent Marathon

After meeting early Friday morning three Wey paddlers, myself, Jack and Alice, and a large BCU team travelled to Gent in Belgium to take part in the Gent Marathon race. We arrived on the Friday afternoon to a windy, choppy regatta course, but despite these conditions we were all very keen to get out for a paddle and a practice on the race course after being on the bus for hours. After our paddle we changed and headed back to the youth hostel for a good dinner and a good nights sleep.

Raceday came and we rose early, enjoyed a big breakfast and headed to the racecourse. After plenty of preparation and warmup the races got underway. First off were the senior men and then Jack and I went off in the junior mens race then the vetran men and then the junior womens race went off. After a tough start the junior mens race separated into groups and raced round the canals. After a burn up out of the last portage I ended up paddling to the end of the race on my own and taking second place. Jack wasn't so lucky with his race. after a poor start he pulled his way right back through the field and then just as he looked like he was back up with the group he took an unfortunate swim. He then got back in and carried on to finish the race despite the freezing water and wind and still beat several other competitors. The junior womens race started soon after the mens and set off round the lake at a fast pace. After a breakaway at the first portage by the eventual winner, Alice paddled round the rest of the course in the front group and after a burn for the finish took second place.

The race was great expierience for all the paddlers who took part and it was great that Wey came away with excellent results.
Charlie