Challenge 2026

What Can we Achieve in 2026?

Each yer we set some targets related to the Year number, so what can we don in 2026. If you have any ideas to add to this list, please get in touch by email: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk or call/text 07951 770241.

Marathon Paddlers

In 2025 we had 9 paddlers enter ranking races and a further 10 people race in our local events, a total of 19. 26 paddlers in total would be a bit easy so do we try for ..

  • 26 Paddlers at ranking events?
  • 26 new paddlers at our races?

This is a challenge, we only attended 4 races this year, one of the great things about Marathon is each event caters for all standards and divisions, so in theory, we can achieve this at just one event, but it wood be good if we get to more Marathon events this year.

Slalom Paddlers

There were 13 ranked paddlers (Division 3 and above) in 2025, we also had 15 paddlers enter in Division 4, a total of 28 paddlers, which is not bad, we really want to build this site of the Club up, we have excellent facilities at Harefield so do you think we can get …

  • 26 Ranked Paddlers?
  • 26 New Paddlers?

If every slalom paddler brings down a friend, this will be easy. We had paddlers at 14 slalom events last year and hosted Shepperton double Div3/4 event in May.

Sprint Racing

2025 was an interesting year, whilst we did not attend any events away from The Shark Races, we did do very well in getting paddlers racing, particularly at Southall, where we had over 50! So what can we do for next year?

  • Host a Regional Spring Race at Thamesmead, with at least 26 races
  • Host weekly Saint sessions at Thamesmead, with at least 26 regular paddlers
  • 26 Sprinters taking part in the Harlesden Hurtle
  • Attend National Sprint Regatta, 26 starts would be good?

Wild Water Racing

2025 was an amazing year for participation by Shark Paddlers with 50 participants, we also hosted 5 events. So how do we better that? Because we have to!

  • 26 new paddlers at races?
  • 26 paddlers at each event we host
  • 26 Female Paddlers (we had 16 in 2025) we want equality.

Canoe Polo

At present we do not play Canoe Polo, and it I time to rectify it, therefore in 2026 we need to …

  • Get 26 people interested at Thamesmea
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Swimming

We are opening an Open Water Swimming project at Birchmere in April and we want to grow this very quickly so …

  • 26 regular swimmers
  • sessions attracting over 26 participants
  • 26 people attending events.

General Competition

  • Attend more than 26 different events, which is not much of a challenge as we did 26 in 2025 (does not include Shark based events).
  • 26 Podium finishes at ranking events.

Fund Raising

Each year we host the Great Harlesden Canoe Race to raise money for local charities, we also have a number of individuals doing events to raise money, in 2026 we want to introduce more opportunities for people to raise money for good causes. If you are doing something for a registered charity, let us know by emailing: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk and we will put it on our website.

  • Shark events to donate £2,600 or more to local good causes
  • To run a Charity Race at Thamesmead
  • 26 Shark associated people involved in raising money.
  • Shark members to raise £2,600 for charity
  • Great Harlesden Canoe Race

Staff

We want to achieve a situation where we have more staff, teachers and others to help run the club, we pay and are keen to hear from anybody (email us at: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk) who is interested in being involved in either a paid capacity or as a volunteer.

We need

The Club is going places and we need you to help us achieve our ambitions, please do get in touch and let is know how you can help us.

Other things

Partnership working has always been key to The Sharks success and we want to grow our partnerships.

We are continuously investing in the club, We are developing projects at Thamesmead, rebuilding our storage at Harefield, we have plans to expand in Southall and Harlesden.

Key projects for 2026 are:

  • Fitting our the boat house at Thamesmead
  • Finishing the Boat Store at Harefield
  • Upgrading the storage at Southall
  • Upgrading the Slalom Course at Harefield
  • Getting a Slalom Course at Thamesmead
  • Canoe Polo facilities.

That is a lot to try and achieve, will you help us? Call/text now on 07951 770241, or email: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk.

We will leave this page on the Calendar and update it throughout the year to see how we are doing.

Published 31s December 2025