Another awesome race last weekend: the Hooley 5k (British 5k championships) on Strathclyde Loch.
The 5k distance makes the Hooley sit comfortably between being a sprint event and a hasler race, and the day is topped off by a dinner and a ceilidh after prizegiving. I had an extremely chaotic K1 Race, a great K2 race and an absolutely hilarious but also terrifying K4 race.
I'll be back next year with a sprint-weight K1 (I just about missed my start, played catch-up all the way and then got disqualified because my boat was too light (it's very heavy, so this hadn't occurred to me, but I'm used to marathon boats and they need to be sprint-weight for the Hooley) - wouldn't have had time to weigh it anyway, so at least I got a warm-up for the crew races).
Got to race with Rob Pretorius again for K2. Made a few tweaks since the marathon and paddled better. The turns at the Hooley 5k are sprint-rudder- friendly. So much fun!
Did K4 with Rachel Schofield, Linda Szabo and Lizelle Kemp . Have a look at the photos for some very obvious relief after the finish and some hilarious out-of-time, wobbly and not happy at all snaps. We were the only all-female K4, we need competition next year (and maybe a bit of practice. Or a more stable boat. Or both.). So cool to race with you - type two fun, but great fun.
These still make me laugh whenever I look at them.
Absolutely loved this event, thanks to the organisers and especially Jon Schofield who had the idea. If you're reading this and you're a paddler or want to be one, you should definitely come along next year.
