Saturday 2nd May 2026 – 11am
A free race to anyone who wants to take part, any boats welcome, the race is about 3.5k, which is a great introductory distance for juniors who want to start racing, also great for adults who want to have some fun, and start racing.
This is the launch of the next phase of our plan to make Southmere Lake the centre of canoeing for London and providing Thamesmead residents with something very special.
We will be launching or race boat session on Mondays, for those who want to try something different and exciting.
The race is suitable to everyone who can paddle, and it is FREE to enter, all Shark paddlers are welcome, as are paddlers from other clubs. This is a fun event to launch our new Thamesmead Racing section. For more information call: 07951 770241, or email: Thamesmead@thesharks.org.uk.
Let’s find out where the journey takes you?
Did you know that Shark paddlers have raced all over the UK, round Scottish Islands, Scottish, Welsh and English Rivers, and on mainland Europe: in the Netherlands, Germany, Macedonia, France, Slovenia, and Italy. And even in the United States of America. Where will you be going next?
There are different types of racing …
Marathon racing
This is predominantly on flat water and rivers, with distances varying according to age and ability, what we are proposing on May 2nd is an introductory race suitable for beginners, but also a competitive event for the more experienced. It will give you a chance to try different boats, to, space with us about racing and it will give you a time and experience for going to another event.
Sprint
Flat water races over 200m, 500m and occasionally longer, these are Olympic events and we are planning to build a Sprint Team at Southmere along side the Marathon team because the two disciplines go very well together, using similar boats.
Wild Water Racing
Did you know we are London’s top Wild Water Racing Club? We have paddlers with international experience, and we can help you on that journey, some of you have already attended our event at Lee Valley , and whilst there is no Wild Water at Southmere, we can teach what is required and then take you to some exciting venues nearby (and further afield).
We will also be introducing Slalom Sessions soon, we are going to build a flat water course at Southmere, to introduce people to the discipline and than who knows where you might go? Some of you went to Shepperton last year and we have paddlers racing at Langham Farm in May, and we are back at Shepperton at the end of May.
Come and join us and have a fun paddling.
Published 27th April 2027