Cardington Wavehopper June ’26 results

The first ever cardington Wavehopper Race

On Saturday 20th June The Sharks in partnership with Viking Kayak Club hosted an evening Wavehopper Race, after the slalom competition. With 32 paddlers taking part, a great success. For slalom report click here.

What is a Wavehopper Race?

Wavehoppers are rota-moulded plastic River Racing kayaks, and are virtually indestructible!

They are often used as introductory kayaks for Wild Water Racing and can be use on course where traditional composite boats may get damaged. They are slightly shorter than Wild Water Racing craft.

Wavehopper races are, unfortunately, kayak only races, we do need a Canoe equivalent.

We did try and navigate a WWR C2 down the course, but it was not possible to do it without potentially damaging the hull as the course is shallow, particularly at the drops.

Results

Women’s

Congratulations to Sophie Marriott from Nottingham Kayak Club, who was the fastest woman of the day and first J16, completing the course in 47.5 seconds. Just ahead of club mate Priya Henriques (J16), who took 50.9 seconds.

In third place came Matlock Canoe Club‘s Laura Warble, with a time of 52.1. With Holly Wilkinson (J16)from the home club, Viking, just 0.7 seconds behind!

Next two places were a family affair with Cheltenham Canoe Club‘s, J14, Heather Longhurst finishing in 53.2, just 0.4 seconds after than her mother, Alison, who was the fastest V45.

Abby Laing, from Lower Wharfe Canoe Club was second J14, with a time of 54.2. In eighth place was Alexandra Judge (V40) from Lee Valley Paddlers, her time was 55.30. 

Nottingham Kayak Club took the next two places with Claire Knight, being the fastest V50, with a time of 55.4 just 0.9 of a second faster that Lexi Jones, who was third J14.

Her first time in a River Race, Tracy Wells (V50) kept sub one minute with a time of 59.0, she paddles for Proteus Canoe Club.

The Youngest paddler of the day was Jojo Bates from Viking, first J8, her time was 1 minute, 4.8 seconds, well done Jojo looking forward to seeing you climb up these rankings next time.

J10, Bronwyn Folland, from Break Out Canoe Unit, was 13th, her time was 1:12.2.

Take a look at the video

Video by Grant Underwood

Men’s

Some surprise results in the Men’s race and great to see people trying different disciplines …

First place went to Etienne Stott (V45), yes the Olympic gold medalist was taking part and, as he regularly does, supporting local events and local athletes. Etienne races for host club Viking and took 36.2 seconds to complete the course.

Etienne with Sharks at Langham Farm

Viking also took second place with another paddler new to River Racing, Thomas O’Hara, his time was 36.6, just 0.4 seconds behind. Just another 0.3 seconds behind him was Nottingham’s V40 paddler Nicky Cresser. Just 0.7 seconds splitting the top 3!

In fourth place and first V50, was Jon Folland from Soar Valley Canoe Club, his time was 37.9.

The top Shark paddler was Grant Underwood, with a time of 39.5. Arek Bialek, from Lee Valley was in sixth place with a time of 42.0.

The first J14 was Jack Maloney from Nottingham, with a finish time of 43.9, he was followed by Shark paddler, Ivijah Campbell-Bryan (J16) with a time of 46.3.

Samual Chick was second J14, he races for Break Out and took 45.7 seconds. Then came another J14, Benjamin Edmonds, from Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club, with a time of 47.5.

Harry Gregson (J16) from Break Out, was in 11th place (47.9) and in 12th place the oldest paddler of the day was V70 Antony Cowderoy of Shepperton Slalom Canoe Club, his time of 50.3 showing that canoeing is a sport for all.

Michael Laing (V40) of Lower Wharfe Canoe Club took 50.7 seconds to get to the finish line, whilst Shark paddler Ian Marsh did it in 53.4.

Then came two J12s, Luke Folland from Break Out (59.1) and Mathew Tufnell from Viking (1:08.9). Murphy Minns (J14) of Nottingham, was 17th (1:10.8). Then V60, Shaun Bower from Viking, (1:12.30) with the youngest male racing, Adam Bialek (J10) from Lee Valleycoming over the line in 1:14.6.

Club Table

Pos.ClubPoints
1Nottingham Kayak Club12,534
2Viking Kayak Club9,148
3Break Out Canoe Unit5,854
4The Sharks4,986
5Lee Valley Padding Club4,438
6Cheltenham Canoe Club3,365
7Lower Wharfe Canoe Club3,365
8Soar Valley Canoe Club1,944
9Matlock Canoe Club1,844
10Proteus Canoe Club1,709
11Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club1,625
12Shepperton Slalom Canoe Club1,533

Statistics

  • 32 different paddlers, several new to River Racing
  • 12 different Clubs
  • Age ranges from under 8 to over 70

Thanks to

As always there are a lot of people and organisations that make these events possible, without them there would be no competitions:

The staff and Officials, time keepers etc for the race.

Nottingham Kayak Club and Nicky Cresser for providing the Wavehoppers

Viking Kayak Club, their team for running the slalom and for letting us use their course.

Members of the Wild Water Racing Committee, who manage the discipline.

Paddle UK, who manage the whole sport of canoeing and kayaking.

Coaches, paddlers, and parents that support the paddlers and events.

The Sharks are proud to be affiliated to Paddle UK

Published 23rd June 2026