Langham Farm Slalom: Wildwater Racing, Teams & Div 3/4

Seren Dŵr Out in Force

Langham Farm was a fantastic weekend for Seren Dŵr, with a huge turnout across both days and a great mix of experienced racers and paddlers attending their first event.

The club fielded 17 paddlers on Saturday and competed in 30 races on Sunday, making Seren Dŵr the largest club represented at the event. From complete beginners to experienced Division 1 paddlers, everyone got involved and contributed to a memorable weekend.

Saturday featured training, Wildwater racing and team events, giving everyone the chance to try something a little different alongside the slalom competition on Sunday. Whether competing, supporting from the bank, or simply enjoying the social side of the weekend, there was a real sense of team spirit throughout.

First Timers Taking the Plunge

One of the highlights was seeing so many paddlers experiencing Langham Farm for the first time. Tom, Steffan, Sylvie and Max were all attending their first slalom weekend at Frome, while Gwen McDonald paddled a kayak for the very first time on Saturday before returning on Sunday to race in Div 4. Max also took part in team racing away from CIWW for the first time, embracing every opportunity to get involved throughout the weekend. It was brilliant to see so many people stepping outside their comfort zones and giving something new a go.

For several paddlers, Langham Farm was their first experience of river paddling and slalom competition, and their reflections capture exactly what made the weekend so enjoyable.

Steffan

"Before I went, I was a bit nervous to get on the water and race, but the staff were very friendly and I felt like even if something went wrong on the course, someone would have been there to help me. The races were really fun, and the white water race was especially enjoyable. Overall, my trip was very good and was the perfect kayaking trip to begin with."

Sylvie

"When I was going to Langham Farm, I wasn't really sure what to expect, which made me quite nervous. I was worried because I thought it was going to be very competitive, but it turned out to be really fun and relaxed. I think if it hadn't been as relaxed, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. Plus, there was really good cake! I would definitely recommend it to anybody who is thinking about going."

Tom

"This was my first river trip, and I didn't really know what to expect. I had done some slalom gates on the CIWW flat water but never on a river before, which made me a bit nervous. When I got to the campsite, there was instantly a really cool atmosphere as people were carrying boats, chatting and relaxing. The river was ideal for beginners, and there were coaches from Seren Dŵr there to help out. It has given me much more confidence in slalom, and I'm looking forward to my next trip with the club."

Their experiences perfectly summed up the weekend. While there was plenty of racing on the water, the atmosphere around the event was welcoming, supportive and relaxed, making it an ideal introduction to slalom competition.

WildWater Racing Highlights

The Wildwater races produced some excellent results for Seren Dŵr. Riley Wilford finished fifth in MK1 before going on to claim second place in MC1. Rowan Cysewski Light followed up seventh place in MK1 with third in MC1, while Laura Darlington, Emily Darlington and Sylvie McDonald all put in strong performances in the WK1 category.

Elsewhere, Tom Miller, Harry Darlington, Jamie Darlington, Steffan Jackson, Iestyn Sutherland, Arwyn Cysewski Light and Aneurin Friston-Kemble all represented the club brilliantly, gaining valuable experience and showing the depth of talent coming through the club.

One of the standout performances came in the Wildwater C2 races. Aneurin Friston-Kemble and Riley Wilford took the win in MC2, while Louis Cousins and Rowan Cysewski Light finished second. They also achieved one of the most talked-about results of the weekend, finishing ahead of Olympic silver medallist Etienne Stott and his crew. It's not every day you can say you've beaten an Olympic medallist, and it was a result that brought plenty of smiles around the Seren Dŵr camp.

Langham Farm Slalom 2026 Results

Sunday's slalom racing brought further success for the club. Ioan Sutherland produced one of the performances of the day, taking victory in Div 3 K1M while also recording a strong result in C1.

Evan Tully was another standout performer, winning Div 4 C1M and securing a top-five finish in Div 3 K1M. His performance earned him promotion to Div 3 in C1M, a fantastic achievement and reward for the hard work he has been putting in over recent months.

Louis Cousins secured second place in Div 3 C1M, while Rozalia Cysewski Light enjoyed an excellent day, finishing third in the Open event and second in Div 4 C1W. Emily Darlington also impressed, placing fifth in the Open event and fourth in Div 3 C1W.

Across the divisions, paddlers of all ages gained valuable race experience. Idris Morris, Iestyn Sutherland, Jamie Darlington, Arwyn Cysewski Light and Harry Darlington all represented Seren Dŵr brilliantly, while Gwen McDonald completed her remarkable journey from first-ever paddle on Saturday to racing Div 4 on Sunday.

With so many Seren Dŵr paddlers on the water, boats were shared, advice was exchanged, and teammates supported each other throughout the day, creating an atmosphere that reflected the club at its very best.

A Weekend to Remember

Club Secretary and Paddle Coach Tavi Murray summed up the weekend perfectly:

"Langham Farm is always a great beginners' slalom for our club, and this year was no exception. We did Welsh slalom proud with 17 paddlers on the water on Saturday and 30 race entries on Sunday, giving Seren Dŵr the biggest club presence at the event. Frome is such a fantastic event that everyone loves. It was great to see paddlers of all abilities getting involved, from those racing their first event to our more experienced paddlers jumping into C2s for fun. The atmosphere is always super-chilled, the food is amazing and everyone is made to feel welcome. Thank you to everyone at Frome Canoe Club for putting on such a fantastic weekend. We'll definitely be back for round two in September."

Away from the results sheet, the weekend was a reminder of what makes Seren Dŵr special. Experienced paddlers supported newcomers, teammates cheered each other on, boats were shared, advice was freely given, and everyone contributed to a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere.

The weekend also saw several personal milestones achieved, from first-time racers and first-time river paddlers to Gwen's first race and Evan Tully's promotion to Div 3 C1M. Those moments, alongside the friendships made and confidence gained, are what make events like Langham Farm so special.

A huge well done to everyone who represented Seren Dŵr. Whether you were racing for points, trying a new discipline, competing for the very first time, or helping others enjoy their first event, you all played a part in making it such a successful and enjoyable weekend.