Away Events Info
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How to sign up for your first event (Division 4)
If you’re starting out, you’ll be competing in a Division Four event. The best thing to do first is to speak with any of the Shepperton coaches, as they’ll be able to explain how to sign up and what to expect. Also, there are plenty of parents of other paddlers at the club who can help.
Here’s an overview so you can read up a little first if needed.
The first thing you need to do is find an event that is hosting a Division 4. Again, the best thing to do is ask your coach for recommendations.
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You can also see all of the upcoming events on the canoe slalom website and go directly to the Division 4 calendar here.
You don’t have to sign up beforehand, on arrival, just find “Control” (the organisers) and they’ll get you signed up and given a bib.
This works the same whether you’re at a Shepperton event or an away event.
If you want to, you can sign up online beforehand, just go to section 2 on this page, as the steps are pretty much the same.​​​
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How to sign up for your first event (Division 3)
To sign up for a Division 3 event, you need to sign up online.
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​Once you’ve completed the steps below, the bulk of these steps are not needed again for future events. You can just sign in (use the same email), and you can enter the event with the paddler's details already added.
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To sign up for a Division 3 event, you also need to be a member of Paddle UK. To register for a membership, you can go HERE. The fee is around £30 per paddler per year, and as part of this, you also need an 'On the water' membership.
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The steps to sign up for an event
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If there is a green ‘open for entries' status, you can click on the event name to enter.
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Next, you’ll be asked to sign in to enter the competition. This message applies whether you’ve signed in before or not. If you’re a parent doing this for your child, use your email address, and then all other details added are for your child.
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You’ll receive a message stating that you’ve been sent an email requesting confirmation of your email address.
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Click on the blue button in the email you received to confirm your registration.
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The canoe slalom entries website will reopen, with the event name displayed at the top.
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Next, select your ranking class, which is most likely to be either K1M (that’s the normal kayak boat and male) or K1W (that’s the normal kayak boat and female)
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Then select the Ranking Division, which is Div 3.
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Then select ‘Add a Paddler to list’. Once you’ve taken these steps once and you’re registered, the name of the paddler will appear in the drop-down for the next event you register for.
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It will then ask you ‘Is paddler ranked or registered in another class?’ Select No, assuming that is the case.
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Then add the paddler’s details, the club to add is Shepperton SCC.
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You can select ‘Yes’ to ‘Is paddler a member of the BC/WCA/SCA/CANI?*’, assuming you've signed up for Paddle UK membership already.
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The final action is to agree to the terms and conditions. Click ‘Add details’
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You are now back at the entry page for the event you have chosen.
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Simply click on ‘Enter Race’, and the paddler will be added, along with the payment, to your basket. If you’re entering both days of the event, make sure you choose ‘Enter Race’ for both.
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Finally, click on ‘Checkout’ in the top right-hand corner, make the payment, and you’re in!
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Useful info for away events
What this section is for?
This section shares lots of helpful information gathered by Shepperton club members on the various away events hosted throughout the year. If you're attending your first away event, find the club below and take a look.
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It’s not for race timings or anything you’ll be able to find on the host’s website or shared by the organisers, but all the smaller things they might not share, but will help make organising your trip a little easier.
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Always read the latest information shared by the organisers, as the information below is based on experiences from previous events. Each one who has contributed has their contact information in case you would like to ask them any questions.
Orten Mere
Contributors: Ben Willmott
Camping spots are available, but the only facilities are portable toilets. There is no running water on site, but a pop-up café is available, offering drinks and food. On my first visit here, I brought a coolbox with me and a couple of large bottles of water. Where you camp is also close to a public walkway, so there may non non-event attendees passing alongside the path during the day and into the evening. It’s close to the dual carriageway you drive down to access the event, so there will be some traffic noise in the evening/night. The traffic isn’t that noticeable during the day. Parking is conveniently located nearby (a one-minute walk), but please note that parking fees apply. It costs around £5 for 24 hours. You can use contactless to pay. When you walk from the parking lot to the event, you have to cross the train tracks. The train that passes through quite regularly is a steam train, so it’s worth looking out for that as it’s an impressive train.
Cardington
Contributors: Ben Willmott
Link: https://www.canoeslalom.co.uk/events/venues/cardington/
The main thing to note, which they explain when the event details are published, is parking if you’re camping. When you first arrive, the main car park is on your left. However, there is a gate straight ahead, which, when open, allows you to drive down to the camping area and drop off all your gear. If it’s closed/locked, you have to park and walk down to where all the main camping and events are, and ask for the key. You’ll be expected to open it up, drive through and then lock it behind you. It’s worth the effort to do this as it’s quite a walk if you have tents, boats etc… Overnight, you can park your car inside the area of that gate, as they don’t recommend leaving it in the main car park overnight. On the day of the event, and before 9 am, you have to move your car into the main car park during the day.
