Langham Farm Sept 2025

A small group of Stroud Valley slalom paddlers (6 of us) found ourselves once more in a beautiful Somerset island surrounded by a very lazy river Frome (it's a farmers field, vacated of sheep the day before, and the water level was quite low). The weather forecast for Saturday was dire (rain + more rain) but by joining forces once more with Cheltenham paddlers we managed to get 2 teams on the water for the team race. It rained throughout the race but stopped in time for prize giving. Stroud Strugglers ( Phil = C1: Peter = K1: Jane & Katy = C2) came 5th

Stroud Allsorts ( Rose = K1: Heather = C1: Alison & David = C2) came 9th. It was a great fun race made funnier by mis - communication and near misses!

The group (who were camping) survived the overnight storm which demolished the event gazebo and half the course to prepare for Sunday racing with a hearty Langham Farm breakfast.

Individual races followed on Sunday along with the sunshine. Phil won 3rd place in men's div3 C1. A mere 0.2 seconds behind second place.

Rose won 3rd place in women's div3 K1. A well deserved win by improving her second run by a massive 23 seconds (sheer determination to beat her mother or to push Jane off 3rd place !) And it was clean, no penalties. Brilliant Jane won 4th place and a medal for first Master (quickest old lady) in women's div3 K1.

Jane's rainbow boat was borrowed by an ex Prem paddler from Frome CC, Finn Johnson, who admirably demonstrated just how fast the boat could go by completing the course in  less than 81seconds (11 seconds faster than the next best time). I did ask if he could leave some of his go faster magic with the boat. We'll see at the next competition.