Hi everyone,

Here's this month's round-up of club news, races and events — please share any suggestions for future editions with Charlotte Anderson.

Winter Series

Well done to the whole team who raced at Bishop’s Stortford last weekend, including our race winners Ethan and Ewan. A special shout out to first-time racers Hugo and Axel, who came 3rd and 4th in the open category! The club also came 3rd overall — a great team effort from everyone involved. Even if you missed this race or the one before it at Cambridge, you aren't too late to join in! The next race is at Maidstone on 22 November. To race, please sign up in the usual place.

This is a series of races that takes place over the winter (does exactly what it says on the tin). There are six races in the series, including one we will host in the New Year. If you compete in a number of these then there's a series trophy at the end of the race series. The races are largely raced by age-group, with a shorter distance option for those in divisions 8/9.

All the details are here: Winter Series Canoe Marathons – Flatwater Racing.

The race dates are here:

Remembrance Day Race — Sunday 8th November 2026

Last chance to sign up — all entries need to be in by 4th November. Sign up in the usual place. We still need a few helpers — if you aren't racing, please support the club by volunteering — sign up in the usual place.

This is a charity event. Profits go to the Royal British Legion.

Start location: Great Linford Memorial Hall, Marsh Drive, Great Linford, Milton Keynes MK14 5AX. Car parking, toilets & refreshments will be available.

Finish location: Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club, at the rear of Cedars School / Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre, Mentmore Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE. Car parking, toilets & refreshments will be available.

Classes — this event is open to kayaks, canoes and SUPs:

• Class A – Marathon Divisions 1, 2 & 3 (K1/K2)
• Class B – Marathon Divisions 4, 5 & 6 (K1/K2)
• Class C – Marathon Divisions 7, 8 & 9 (K1/K2)
• Class D – Canoes and other single bladed paddle craft (C1/C2)
• Relay – Teams of two crafts (K1s or K2s)

Note: Where paddlers in a K2 are not in the same division, the class will be that of the average ranking. Pairings can be male, female or mixed.

Course: 15 miles with 4 portages. It's a paddle-back course, starting at Great Linford Wharf, Milton Keynes, MK14 5AX, Bridge Number 77. Paddlers head south and finish at the Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club landing stage. For relay teams: leg 1 is 6.5 miles with no portages, and leg 2 is 8.5 miles with 3 portages.

Sports Council Awards — We're Nominated!

Huge news to share — LBCC has been nominated in four categories at this year's Sports Council Awards! It's a brilliant reflection of everything our members and volunteers put into the club, and we couldn't be prouder. The awards night is on 18th November — fingers crossed!

A massive congratulations and good luck to Charlotte, Ann and Ewan — and to the whole club for the Sports Club of the Year nomination. Whatever happens on the night, being recognised like this is a fantastic achievement!

Hare & Hounds

For anyone who hasn't come across it before, Hare & Hounds isn't a straight race against the clock — it's a handicapped time trial. The slowest paddlers (the "hares") set off first, with faster paddlers (the "hounds") starting later according to their handicap, so that everyone is aiming to finish at roughly the same time. It makes for a close, sociable race where no one gets left behind on the water, and each race's finishing time sets your start time for the next one in the series.

These will run in the usual Club sessions as 'intra-club' races on a Saturday (dates below), and there are distance options for every level of experience — plus a trophy at the end of the series!

The first race of the series took place on Saturday 24th October. Well done to everyone who took part — especially those who paddled further than they've paddled before! The next Hare & Hounds race is on Saturday 21st November.

The important thing to remember is your place within your own distance group, not your raw time. Your best 5 placings over the course of the series will be averaged, with the lowest points total winning — so every race counts, however your pace compares to everyone else's.

Thanks to Kari for doing the timing last week — all the results, as well as the start positions for Race 2 (yes, you do start further back if you were quicker than expected in Race 1!), were shared on the WhatsApp group and via the Facebook page.

AGM — Saturday 21st November

It is once again approaching time for the club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) — this year it will be held on Saturday, 21st November at 10:30am, immediately after training.

During the AGM, the committee will present an update on the past year and any upcoming plans. It's also an opportunity for you to have your say.

To keep the club running smoothly, there are many regular roles and responsibilities that need to be undertaken. Below, you'll find a link to the sheet with the current roles. If you'd like to take on a role, simply click on the role and complete the form link that opens. If you see someone has nominated themselves for a role, please click on their name and complete the form link that opens to propose or second their nomination.

AGM Office Election List 2026

The key committee role still looking for someone to fill it this year is Support Team Representative:

• Support Team Representative — represents the Support Team (Boat Repair, Tuck Shop, Building & Maintenance, Club Shop, Volunteer Coordinator and LB Race Official) at committee meetings, making sure their views are raised and feeding committee decisions back to the group.

There are also a number of non-committee roles that are available and vital to the running of the club, such as racing team leaders, volunteer coordinator, catering and club shop.

If you'd like to know more about a role, please reach out to one of the committee members. If you have any questions or issues, please don't hesitate to contact secretary@lbcc.org.uk.

Welfare & Safeguarding

The safety and wellbeing of every member — junior and adult — matters to LBCC, and welfare and safeguarding is something the whole club shares responsibility for. Please take a moment to read the updates below.

Creating a Safe Club Culture: Bullying vs Banter & Active Bystander Be Active are delivering a whole-club workshop (juniors & adults), hosted by Dan, Be Active's Sport Welfare Officer. The session explores the difference between bullying and banter, how we can create a safe, positive and inclusive club for everyone, and what it means to be an Active Bystander — having the confidence to challenge behaviour that's inappropriate, threatening or simply makes you feel uncomfortable, in a non-confrontational way. Saturday 28th November, 11am–1pm at Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club. Please sign up in the usual place so we have an idea of numbers.

Your Club, Your Voice — Communication Box A new, secure and confidential Communication Box is now in place, located near the kitchen hatch. It's here for every member — juniors and adults — to share suggestions, feedback or concerns about anything related to the club, and you're welcome to do so anonymously if you'd prefer. The box is checked regularly by the Welfare Officer, who will share feedback with the relevant people within the club where appropriate.

New welfare and safeguarding policies have also been uploaded to the club website. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with them at lbcc.org.uk, under the "Welfare & Safeguarding" and "Policies" tabs.

Xmas Party

Junior Xmas event — Friday 4th December at Ninja Warrior (details to follow).

Main Xmas Party (for everyone!) — Friday 11th December at Leighton Buzzard Football Club.

Dates for your diary

Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club · Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre, Leighton Buzzard · Est. 1976

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