8th July saw the final UK N1SCO Championships with an Inland event scheduled for Bray Lake near London but logistical restrictions saw the decision made for the event to up roots and relocate to the venue used for the recent N1SCO European Championships, Swanage Bay in Dorset.
With a perfect SUP forecast many of the sell out 100 paddler fleet took the diversion and enjoyed close racing, flat seas, deck chairs and ice cream on the sandy beach in Dorset. More last minute surprises came in the form of 4 x European SUP Champion Casper Steinfath flying in to the event to hit the water with the competitors before offering bespoke ‘Viking Paddle Clinics’ where competitors could have their paddling questions answered and their techniques critiqued by one of the best paddlers in the World. Casper commented ‘So stoked I decided to jump on a last minute flight to the UK yesterday! Racing, paddling and laughing with this crew has been all time!!’
With paddlers ages ranging from 8 years old to 78 years old the inclusive nature of N1SCO racing was very evident on the day as was the sharing of experience with some of the countries best paddlers cheering and coaching paddlers in their first ever race event with some who had only very recently taken up the sport.
Racing followed the standard N1SCO format with all competitors taking part in a packed schedule of three race disciplines during the day; Sprint, Mid distance technical (lots of turning) and a more tradition 5km long distance race. Both the Men and Women fleets went down to the last race to decide the titles with an in form Phil McCoy holding off a hungry George Cornwell Brown and the highly experienced Dave Ewer to lead the men in the highlight of his first years SUP racing. In the Womens fleet, Andrea Richardson held off heavy pressure from Ginnie Odetayo on her N1SCO Premier and the current N1SCO Sprint European Champion Helen Dennison to finish the year with a triple by taking all three N1SCO Championship titles in 2017, an achievement not to be underplayed. Junior racers enjoyed the focus of the fleet with two short confident building races in the crystal clear knee deep water during the lunch breaks. Cheered on by the fleet and with Casper Steinfath taking the role as mentor, the Juniors fought hard with Storm Ewer heading up the podium where all the juniors were invited to have their achievements recognised.
The evening sun was enjoyed with cold beer from event sponsor Whitstable Bay and the British Tradition of Fish & Chips on the beach whilst stories of the days action were exchanged and laughter shared. The last of the daylight was put to good use as further paddle clinics took to the water with Casper whilst others made full use of the increasingly comfortable deck chairs.
Check Results HERE
http://n1sco.co.uk/
