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Marathon
Marathon
racing is the cross country racing of canoesport. Marathon racing
in Britain has a divisional system so that whatever your age,
ability, or boat, you will be racing against people of a similar
speed. Events are held on rivers, canals, and lakes across Britain
most weekends, with a number of these races in each region being
nominated as qualifying races for the national club championships,
'The Hasler final'. Each region can send it's two best clubs
based on points gained in the qualifying races.
The divisional system means that you will not end up racing
for huge distances when you first start racing marathons, because
the distances increase as you progress up the divisions. Newcomers
start in Div. 9, with Divs. 7, 8, and 9 racing over a 4 mile
course with no portages or weir shoots. This is about 40 to
50 minutes paddling. Divs. 4, 5, and 6 race over an 8 mile course
which may have portages This is about 1 hr 20, and Divs. 1,
2, and 3 race over a 12 mile course with portages, about 1 hr
40. You get promoted to a higher division when you do well in
the division that you are currently racing in. 
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