October 31st - Castletown Sprint National ranking race/Junior series
Race organiser - Celbridge paddlers, contact – cpaddlers@hotmail.com

November 14th - Temple Mills – Slcc classic Non ranking race/Junior series
Race organiser – SLCC, contact - ass1@eircom.net

November 28th - Irish Open WWR Aughrim Classic National Ranking race
Race organiser – Keith McGuirk, contact - keithmacguirk@gmail.com

December 5th - Mourne mass start Non ranking race
Race organiser - Foyle paddlers, contact - gmcgahey@burkeshipping.co.uk

January 22nd & 23rd - Aghade Sprint (Sat) and Avonmore Classic (Sun) National ranking
Race organiser – Wildwater Ctte, contact - yglynn@yahoo.com

February 6th - Inny Classic National ranking and Junior series
Race organiser - Inny kayakers, contact - irenenooney@hotmail.com

March 6th - Clashganney Sprint National ranking and Junior series
Race organiser Thomastown paddlers, contact Donnacha Brennan - ph 087 9261663


What is Wildwater Racing?
Wildwater Racing is an exciting form of canoeing & kayaking, which sees competitors race down stretches of rough river negotiating rapids, weirs and other river obstacles in time trial format. It is the canoeing equivalent of Downhill skiing. Races consist of two types:

1) The sprint event where competitors race twice down a stretch of rough water approx. 500 meters in length, with the times of their two runs combined to count towards the race result.

2) The classic event where competitors race once down a stretch of rough river between 2 km and 8 km long.

In both event types, the competitor with the fastest elapsed time is deemed the winner. It is a true test of a paddler's speed, strength, stamina and skill. Classes for people competing in different boat types are provided at races and competitors race against others of similar sex and age group, out and paddle some of the best, most interesting and scenic rivers of Ireland.

Racing Classes
At all races, the following classes will be offered:
Men’s WWR Kayak Div 1.
Men’s WWR Kayak Div 2.
Junior men’s WWR Kayak.
Women’s WWR Kayak.
Junior Women’s WWR Kayak.
C1.
C2.
Open Singles / GP classes

Junior Series Races
A series of Junior Series Wildwater races will be run during the season (some will run in parallel with normal Wildwater Races. These races will have classes alongside normal WildwaterRaces which will also have special junior classes and will be run on courses deemed suitable for junior paddlers (unless marked as Junior Series only, normal Wildwater racing classes will also be run at these events). Specific junior classes catered for at these events will include the following:

Men’s under 18 WWR kayak.
Women’s under 18 WWR kayak.
Under 18 C1/C2.
Men’s under 18 Open
Singles/GP.
Women’s under 18 Open
Singles/GP.

At the end of the season the LIAM F McCarthy CUP will be awarded to the club with the best overall points score in the above junior classes at the junior series races. The points awarded to junior paddlers will be based on the national ranking points (first place = 101 points, second place = 99 points, third place = 98 points, etc.).

National Championships
National Championship points are awarded to competitors in the following classes:

Men’s WWR Kayak
Junior men’s WWR Kayak
Women’s WWR Kayak
Junior Women’s WWR Kayak
Senior & Junior C1
Senior C2 & Junior C2

The best 60% of ranking race results (to the closest integer) out of all the races held in each season will be taken into account for the individual championship points, in the event of a tie both paddlers will be declared joint National Champions. To become a national champion, a paddler must achieve a full national ranking (compete in at least 60% of ranking races).