HEAVY cruiser traffic on the Ashby Canal at Hartington created several hazards for paddlers at the Anker Valley Marathon but the Solihull Canoe Club team managed the tricky conditions well.
Junior Joe Pittaway continues to work hard in division 3 but his time of 1 Hr.33 min for the 19 Km race which included two portages was only 11.6 % over the time of the winner William Smithson from Royal Leamington Spa.
Veteran Mark Wevill swam three times on a very turbulent division 4 race of 13 Km with one portage but still finished in a time only 11% over that of the winner !.
Pictured veteran Steve Wilkins finished second in division 5 in a sprint finish only 28 seconds behind Theo Victor-Trott of Hereford with both paddlers promoted to division 4.
Veteran John Horne-Macdonald continues to improve in the 6.4 Km division finishing 5th only 1min 2 sec outside the promotion time to division 8 with team mate veteran Becky Farmer only 1 min 22 sec.behind him to also score valuable club points.
Division 4 ranked veteran Richards Elliott teamed with division 2 paddler Tom Lusty to easily win the Division 3-4 double event over the 19 Km two portage course in a time of 1 Hr.14 Min 29 secs.5 Min.27 secs faster than the winners of division 1-2 !
Juniors Ben Aston / Alexandra Farmer completed a good team effort finishing fifth in the division 8 doubles race in at time of 39 min.43 sec.only 2 min.16 secs slower than the winning crew from Lincoln were promoted.
The team finished in 7th.position in the Midlands inter-club points competition
