A MASSIVE 171 paddlers turned out at Chelmsford Canoe Club on Sunday to participate in the fifth race of the Essex Winter Series.
Seventy-two of these were Chelmsford paddlers, who braved the challenging choppy water and exceptionally strong winds. Due to part of the river being frozen, some last minute changes were made to the course allowing shoppers to watch and enjoy the race passing through the town centre.
There were some excellent results within the club and in the K2 16 years plus, Lewis Duffield and Charlotte Avery came in second.
In the open K1 18 years plus race, Chelmsford secured the top two positions with Keith Moule in first place and Dan Johnson in second.
In the male K1 U18, Blaize Green was first and Matt Johnson second.
Lisa Forsyth and Jo Everitt won the female K2 16 years plus race and Jo Hardy and Judy Podd were second.
James Russell took first place in the male K1 U16 and Sophie Park came third in the female K1 16 years plus.
Owen White and Ben Hulme were second in the K2 U16 and Melissa Johnson was first in the K1 under 16.
In the TGP open class, Spencer Gore came in first and Phil Curry third.
In the female U14 K1, Emma Russell came in second and Rachel Orenstein third.
Chelmsford Canoe Club dominated the male GPO class fielding six of the seven paddlers, but were pipped to the post by a paddler from Herts Young Mariners .
In the female GPO class, Deborah Wilkes took second place and Bethany Radcliffe third.
Imogen Creavin showed great determination and came second in the K1 U12 mixed race, narrowly missing out on first place by only a couple of seconds.
Chelmsford now have a magnificent lead in the Essex Winter Series and are miles ahead of the other 12 clubs who have competed in races to date.
The last race of the Series will take place at Leaside on March 10.
