Words: Holly Mobbs
The British National Short Course Championships 2025 provided new challenges for the 180-strong field with unusual windy and cool conditions, but marathon racers still produced an exciting show for onlookers.
A busy one-day competition, Short Course Nationals is marathon racing’s most exciting, action-packed distance with 3.6k and 2 portages of fast-paced tactics and group dynamics.
The event was created by James Symthe, the secretary of the Marathon Racing Committee and Team Manager of international teams. The 2025 edition of the event returned to Nene Park in Peterborough for a fourth year in a row, but sadly, the perfectly calm and warm weather conditions we had come to expect from the location did not return. Competitors were greeted with gusts of up to 27 mph and a cold edge to the area. This did not stop for some very intense and close racing from all categories.
2022 World Short Course Champion Beth Gill (Nottingham Kayak Club) returned to the marathon racing scene this weekend after a year’s recovery from a shoulder injury and she raced head to head with George Bell (Fladbury Canoe Club) in the open canoe final. The first lap and portage saw George open up a small gap, but the challenging windy conditions saw Beth close him down. They were neck-and-neck through the last portage and small lap, resulting in a tight sprint finish to the line. George just pipped Beth in a time of 00:18:38, with Beth just two seconds behind.
After his race, George reflected: “The race was tough as the portages make the race that much more physically challenging and the wind made it even more tricky, particularly as a canoe paddler when it created a cross wind. My favourite thing about Short Course Nationals was having a course that can be viewed by spectators at all points. I truly believe it’s Britain’s best spectator canoe race of the year.”
Beth was ecstatic to finally take part in the Short Course Nationals: “This was my first Short Course Nationals and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of it. James [Symthe] was the team manager at my first marathon world championships. He was hugely supportive and guided me through the whole week. His positive enthusiasm and support gave me that stepping stone to go on and become World Champion the following year – for which I’m forever grateful. To be part of the Short Course Nationals and get my hands on the trophy means a lot to me, so thank you to all that made the day happen.”
2024 European Short Course Bronze medal winner James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) demonstrated a dominant performance in the Senior Men K1 second heat, breaking clean at the first turn and not looking back. Whereas in the first heat, Charlie Smith (Nottingham Kayak Club) and Matthew Collinge (Fowey River Canoe Club) had a tight battle to secure the top three automatic qualification spots for the finals. A 20-strong start line lined up for the final A at the end of the day and race was a constant battle of changing places and spectacular catch-ups. James Russell was victorious in a time of 00:13:53, with Charlie in second three seconds behind and Matthew in third.
After taking the win, James reflected on the event, “It was great to be back at Peterborough. It’s an opportunity to run through a full day of race practice similar to how an international event is run. The lake offers lots of opportunities for tight racing and makes a nice change from the usual rivers we race on. My favourite part is being able to watch the other classes race, and because of the layout, you get to watch the whole race unfold. You essentially get a highlight reel of marathon racing for a few hours!”
In the Under 23 category, Harry Freeland (Elmbridge Canoe Club) finished 1st as well as a spectacular fourth in the overall senior men race in a time of 00:14:15. Joseph Enoch (Nottingham Kayak Club) took second in his first year outside of the Junior category and Under 18 William Short (Elmbridge Canoe Club) took third after racing three other times throughout the day.
Melissa Johnson (Nottingham Kayak Club) was once again crowned National Champion in the Senior Women’s K1 race after a competitive final which saw a large group of seven battling for positions throughout the three loop course. It was a confident and controlled leading sprint into the finish that secured her the win in a time of 00:16:11, holding out the Under 23 National Champion Jessie Urquhart (Nottingham Kayak Club) and the Under 23 second place Elise Montagna (Royal Canoe Club). Nerys Hall (Wey Kayak Club) secured the third place on the Under 23 podium.
The Junior Boys K1 field had the largest field with over 60 entries, resulting in the only category having three heats and therefore three finals. The 2024 World Silver K2 medalist William Short (Elmbridge Canoe Club) showed his strength and control as he took the win in a time of 00:14:39. Cool, calm and collected, he even had time for a little smile to his club as he ran through the last portage to claim the run. Tom Hatton (Richmond Canoe Club) showed his raw speed to claim second in a sprint finish to the line against William Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) in third and Alex Worgan (Richmond Canoe Club) narrowly in fourth.
Marcall Nagy (Reading Canoe Club) won the Under 16 Boys K1 category, with Ben Eskriett (Gailey Canoe Club) in second and Henry Pitt (Royal Canoe Club) in third. Finnley Meredith (Elmbridge Canoe Club) won the Under 14 Boys K1 category, with Fergus Barnett (Reading Canoe Club) in second and Edward Stroud (Wey Kayak Club) in third.
The Junior Girls K1 provided another tight head-to-head battle with Dianora De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) and Kamila Sklenarova (Norwich Canoe Club) pushing each other through every portage and turn. It was the turn of Dianora to be victorious, taking the win one second ahead of Kamila. Sophie Dunlop (Elmbridge Canoe Club) earned third in a gutsy performance where she closed a gap on the top two multiple times over the 3.6k course. Dianora’s performance was particularly remarkable considering she is still Under 16 and therefore also took the win in that category. Matilda Burton (Elmbridge Canoe Club) was second and Under 14 Ruth Shephard (Reading Canoe Club) came third in the under 16 category as well as winning the under 14 category. Adriana De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) followed in her sisters’ footsteps, stepping onto the podium for second on the Under 14 podium with Emma Saunders (Wey Kayak Club) taking third.
The windy conditions were especially challenging for our younger junior paddlers and we want to highlight the gutsy performances from all our juniors who took part. Well done to all.
Para racing in marathon is growing in strength after the confirmation of formal World Championship classes being established in the 2025 season and this year’s short course nationals saw record numbers entering. The Para K1 class was won dominantly by Finlay Stallard (Fladbury Canoe Club) by nearly two minutes with junior para paddler Shayne Dawson-Dymond (Wolverhampton Canoe Club) taking second. Our winning female para K1 paddler Charlotte Creamer (Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club) also took third in the overall para K1 race. Shaun Cook (Norwich Canoe Club) looked strong in his third year competing on the marathon para scene and enabled him to claim the win again in the Para Va’a category in a time of 00:21:22. We look forward to seeing para racing continue to flourish on the marathon scene nationally and internationally.
The Veteran Women K1 field had record number entries for Short Course Nationals and this enabled it to become the most competitive race from them since it was established as a separate race to the Senior Women K1 field. Joanne Bates (Falcon Canoe Club) took the overall win and the win in the O34 class, with Lynne Fender (Nottingham Kayak Club) coming second overall and first in the O44 and O54 category. Catherine Shirley (Ealing Canoe Club) came third overall as well as second in the O44 and O54 category. Jane Millar (Nottingham Kayak Club) came first in the O64 category.
We would love to keep seeing this category continue to grow and want to encourage all Veteran women to come and take part in what is a competitive but very supportive race class.
The Veteran Men K1 race saw Matthew Enoch (Nottingham Kayak Club) retain his overall title in a time of 00:15:48 with Juan Caruncho (Barking and Dagenham Canoe Club) in second and David Oliver (Lincoln Canoe Club) in third overall and second in the O44 category. Neil Blackman (Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club) took the win in the O54 category with Stan Missen (Bradford on Avon Canoe Club) taking the win in the O64 category.
This event was supported with exceptional prizes from Precision Fuel & Hydration, which saw all podium positions earning a branded water bottle, branded hat and PH1500 electrolyte as well as the overall podium winner securing a £25 gift card. We really appreciate Precision Fuel & Hydrations support and faith in the event as well as their wider support for our international team as well.
The fourth edition of Short Course Nationals proved to be yet another success and it has certainly wet our appetite for the 2025 season, which kicks starts at the beginning of June with the European Canoe Marathon Championships in Portugal. Marathon racing will also feature in the World Games for a second time this August, where Great Britain has secured a Senior Men K1 and Senior Women K1 spot.
For full results from all heats and finals, please visit our live results page here.
To access all photos taken by Antony Edmonds during the event, please visit Google Drive here.
If you are interested in marathon racing, use the PaddleUK club finder to find your closest marathon racing club and get in touch. We have regional races taking place all over the country most weekends throughout the summer and it is a great way to get out and enjoy the incredible British countryside too!