Canoe: Sprint Championships 2025-26

Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 March 2026

Whitlingham Country Park, Whitlingham Lane, Norwich, NR14 8TR

Tuesday 16 December 2025

Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 23:59 – Student / Competitor Deadline

(Students / Competitors must apply by this deadline)

Thursday 26 February 2026 at 23:59 – Institution Administrator Deadline

(Institutional Administrators are given 48 hours after the student / competitor deadline to approve entries)

Entries for the K2 disciplines must be ranked as pairs, based on who is competing together in a boat (e.g. 1, 1, followed by 2, 2 and so on). Please ensure BOTH competitors enter this event.

Individual entries (K1 & C1) – £34

Crew boat and relay entries (K2 and relays) – £17 per person

Should the competition allow more entries a Stage 2 Entry window will open. Priority will remain with the entries received before the Stage 1 entry closing date. Entries received in the Stage 2 window and accepted into the competition, will be charged an additional 20% fee.

Should there be a Stage 2 Entry window. The dates will be as follows.

Friday 27 February 2026 -  Stage 2 Entries Open

Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 23:59 – Student / Competitor Deadline

Thursday 5 March 2026 at 23:59 – Institution Administrator Deadline

Stage 2 Entry Costs

Individual entries (K1 & C1) – £40

Crew boat and relay entries (K2 and relays) – £20

For available BUCS Points, please see Appendix 1.

Each event has a capacity of 30 boats. Should the event reach capacity, BUCS may need to restrict the number of entries per institution.

This means when submitting entries on BUCS Play, for both the Men’s and Women’s competition, competitors should be ranked in order of preference e.g 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on, before being submitted.

Additionally, entries for the K2 disciplines must be ranked as pairs, based on who is competing together in a boat (e.g. 1, 1, followed by 2, 2 and so on). Please ensure BOTH competitors enter this event.

To apply for the competition all eligible competitors must follow these steps:

1. Competitor to apply to the event on BUCS Play (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
2. Institution administrator approves entry (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
3. BUCS approves/denies entry into competition and publishes confirmed entry list

Any data will be handled in accordance with BUCS Privacy Policy

By participating in this event you agree to adhere to BUCS General Event Disclaimer

To check whether you are eligible to compete in BUCS competitions, please visit REG 4 Individual Eligibility.

BUCS Canoeing Rules and Regulations

For championship events, ICF Canoe Sprint boat and equipment rules apply - (Chapter 3)

The K1 and C1 5km events will include a number of laps. Once the winner crosses the finish line, all other competitors will complete their current lap and will not necessarily complete the full distance. Anyone who does not complete the full number of laps will be scored as DNF. 

Events will be organised with heats, semi-finals and finals with progression operating based on finishing positions together with best times from paddlers finishing outside of the top positions. Heats will be seeded based on the ranking provided by the institution. Please note this is subject to entry numbers. 

We welcome the participation of para-athletes at this event. If you are a para-athlete that is looking to take part in this year’s BUCS Canoe Slalom event, then please email [email protected] to express your interest and to see if appropriate accommodations can be made for your participation.

All boats and equipment will be subject to review on the day of the event to ensure safety and compliance with above ICF regulations where applicable.

Buoyancy aids will be required for all open events and may be required for championship events subject to conditions. 

Some boats may be available for hire at the event to enable everyone to participate. If you need to borrow a craft from the venue or local club, please complete/contact Tim Scott ([email protected]) and share the key information for us to be able to supply these on the day. Please answer the following questions in an email to Tim:

• What boat do you currently paddle for K1 or C1? Please state the make, model and size.
• What boat do you currently paddle for K2 or C2? Please state the make, model and size.

There will be a small charge for weekend boat hire of £5 per boat. Payment will need to be made upon collection at the event. We will do our best to accommodate boat loan requests, however there isn’t an unlimited stock so we may not be able to cater for all requests.

Please see REG 7.9 for our withdrawal policy.

Withdrawals before the IA Approval Deadline (23:59 on Thursday 26 February 2026) will not be charged.

Withdrawals after the IA Approval Deadline (23:59 on Thursday 26 February 2026 and before 23:59 on Friday 13 March 2026) will still be charged the entry fee. 

Competitors who withdraw after 23:59 on Friday 13 March OR do not attend the competition will be classed as a late withdrawal/no show and therefore will be charged the entry fee. They will also be fined £50 which will be charged after the event, to the competitor’s athletic union.

Withdrawal of a competitor does not guarantee a replacement into the competition. Reserves will only be charged an entry fee if they are accepted into the competition.

Withdrawals must be made in writing by the institution administrator to Tanyel Mustafa, BUCS Event Coordinator.

This will be released closer to the competition date.

Anyone wishing to take photos or video at this event must complete the BUCS Media Accreditation Form prior to the event.

BUCS reserves the right to prohibit photography equipment being used at a BUCS event. BUCS reserves the right to request that the individual ceases to take photographs, deletes any images and, if considered necessary, leaves the venue.

If you wish to take photos or videos at this event, please contact the BUCS Event Lead. 

BUCS’ mission is to provide exceptional student sporting experiences that inspire, develop and unite.

Critical to our success is our commitment to always providing safe, friendly and enjoyable environments for all participants. Whether competing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, working or spectating at these events, the welfare of all is critical to our mission.

To find out more or report a concern, please click here.

All questions should in the first instance should be directed to your Institution Administration.