Dedicated performances from all nine Brits taking on the long course in blustery conditions on the final day of racing at the 2024 Marathon World Cup in Brandenburg.
The World Cup is quickly becoming another heavily contested race on the marathon calendar, attracting some of the best marathon paddlers across the world. All the British athletes did a great job gaining vital racing experience on the international stage.
The Women's long course was the first race of the day with British participation.
Melissa Johnson (Chelmsford) was back on the water again after her silver medal in the short course yesterday. She was joined on the water by Katie Brookes (Exeter) and Freya Peters (Richmond).
They took on the 26.2km course completing seven large laps and one small.
Johnson found a position in a large lead group off the start. It was a battle for washes and to keep up with the high pace set by reigning World Champion Kiszli of Hungary.
Katie Brookes and Freya Peters were close behind forming the second group.
After the top turn of lap one Melissa dropped back and committed to chasing down the leaders.
A large gap had been created between the leaders and chase groups by the time the first portage came around.
Johnson and Brookes teamed up midway through the race to form a chasing group with a number of other athletes in the mid field.
The British duo split later on in the race with Johnson progressing through the field ahead. She sat on the edge of the top ten positions during the later half of the race. A hard fought final stretch saw her finish in 11th place with a time of 2:18:17.
Speaking after her race she said:
“My start was great, I got into the front group for the first half a lap but couldn't quite keep the pace coming down the back straight.
“Was in a nice group of four until the fifth lap, then was dropped and did the final lap on my own. I'm very happy with where I came after a great performance yesterday. I came into the race hoping to make the top 10 but I'm happy with 11th.
“It was a great experience being in the front group, I managed to get myself into a lot of good positions going up to the top turn. My aim is to try and get into the front group as often as I can.
“Training has been going very well, I think I’ve made a big improvement from last year, in sprint as well as marathon. There is a big group of us that train together in Nottingham, and we all support each other during training and races. Dan has been great, he's been coaching and supporting me and the team in Nottingham. I also get a lot of support from Chelmsford which has helped.”
Brookes continued to endeavor around the course and clawed back to gain a few places before crossing the line in 14th place with a time of 2:19:20.
Reflecting on her race she said:
“I really enjoyed the race. It was great lining up against some top senior women. I had a good start and was in the second group.
“I felt like I had a lot of learning experiences during the race, there is a lot to take away from it.”
The final Brit across the line was Peters in 17th position. She cemented a comfortable position mid-field early in the race and maintained it with hard work and good race knowledge. She split away from her chasing group and powered on solo towards the end of the race finishing with a time of 2:21:47.
The Men's long course race took place in the afternoon with six British athletes competing in an incredibly high caliber race.
They took on eight large laps and one small lap, racing over 29.8k.
It was a stacked start line, and the pace was fast off the line. Fowey's Matt Collinge made it into a large lead group and fought for a comfortable position in the washes.
He maintained this position around the first few laps before a group of four athletes broke away to lead the race out of a portage.
Collinge proved to be fast on the portages and kept a strong position in a chase group of four for the majority of the race. The pace quickened in the final laps which saw Collinge drop back in the field. His determination didn't wane as he hunted down the group ahead.
He was the first Brit across the line in 14th position. Finishing with a time of 2:20:25
Collinge reviewed his performance post race saying:
“I was relatively happy with my race, I would have liked to have placed higher but I can't complain. I went in with the plan to go out hard and try to stay at the front of the race for as long as possible.
“I was pleased to be in the front group for the first 10km, moving from V wash to V wash, trying to race as efficiently as I could. As is life, all good things must come to an end, and I blew out at around 20km. After it was a long slog to the finish especially with the side chop.
“I train in Nottingham, and the group is great there for training as there is always someone to push you. Since I've been there I've improved loads.”
Fellow Brits Finn Cadell (Nottingham) and Tim Dowden (Norwich) were next across the line in 15th and 16th positions respectively.
Cadell fought well throughout the race. Initially paddling with teammates Arthur Morley (Wey) and Sam Cribbett (Nottingham) around lap four, he was able to break away and join Dowden's chase group further ahead in the field.
The Nottingham paddler had trouble with water getting in his boat on multiple occasions. However he always made up for any lost time on the portage get outs with exceptionally fast runs along the portage. He finished with a time of 2:21:57.
Finn shared his race experience saying:
“My race started particularly badly but improved as it went on. I was dropped clean out of the start and found myself in last place after a kilometre, having not responded well to the crowed start line and ugly cross wind.
“After the first lap I finally got into my grove a bit, and slowly moved up through the field. About 15km in I chased down and caught up with a group who I then stayed with until the last portage, when myself and fellow Brit Tim Dowden broke away. Tim and I then had a head-to-head into the finish, which I just about won.
“Credit to the training group at Nottingham Kayak Club, whose constant pushing me to my limits and making sure I never give in meant that I didn't stop when I appeared down and out following a poor start.
“I think my portages unexpectedly went well today, portaging is often an issue for me, but I learned that I certainly need to do some more work getting used to paddling in chop”
Tim Dowden held strong in the middle of the field throughout the race, he was consistent in demonstrating his strong racing knowledge and abilities. He was close behind Finn on the line finishing with a time of 2:22:02.
Arthur and Sam stayed consistent and dedicated throughout the race. They worked as a team in a chasing group of four and kept pressure on the group ahead with good pace.
Unfortunately for Cribbett, rudder issues after the penultimate portage meant he had to stop to fix the problem. This caused him to lose touch with team mate Arthur and the rest of their group.
Morley finished in 23rd place with a time of 2:24:40 and Cribbett in 24th with a time of 2:27:34.
A highly motivated paddler, Will Stroud (Chelmsford) proved unwavering in commitment to the race. He powered around the course accompanied by the Polish paddler towards the later half. He also demonstrated great portage technique and running speed.
Stroud completed the course in 26th with a time of 2:27:56.