Since 2016, Canoeing Results has been quietly building what has become the largest archive of UK paddlesport history, stretching all the way back to 1957. What began as a mission to piece together historic Canoe Slalom Division 1 and Premier results has grown into an extraordinary digital library of race outcomes, national rankings, club newsletters, magazines, and snapshots of paddling heritage from across the decades.

Behind the scenes, this huge undertaking is powered by volunteers, including project lead Peter Keane, a former C1 and C2 GB paddler from the 1970s and ’80s. Much of the work has involved manually re‑typing old paper results, often faded, wrinkled or photocopied to the brink of extinction, because early OCR attempts simply couldn’t read them.

Supported by Paddle UK, the archive now covers multiple disciplines and continues to expand. But the team is ready for their biggest challenge yet.

The Next Step: Rebuilding the Forgotten Divisions

The project is now moving beyond Div 1 and Premier, looking to fill in the missing years for Slalom Divisions 2, 3, 4 and even the historic Division 5.

And this is where our community comes in.

Many of these results only exist in paper form, often tucked away in filing cabinets, loft boxes, club sheds, or forgotten folders brought home by volunteers long ago. Tracking these down across the UK is no small task, especially when contact details for older clubs or former committee members can be hard to trace.

So, Canoeing Results is asking paddlers, coaches, clubs, and anyone with connections across the paddling world to help uncover and preserve these historic documents before they're lost.

How You Can Help:

✔️ Check Your Club Archives

Do you have old Slalom Div 2/3/4/5 results hiding somewhere?
Does your club secretary, longtime coach, or a retired paddler have dusty boxes full of past race programmes or result sheets?

If so, the volunteer team would love to hear from you.

✔️ Ask Your Club Members

Long‑standing paddlers often keep personal scrapbooks or training logs. A quick shout‑out at your next club night might uncover a treasure trove.

✔️ Share Through Your Networks

Spread the word to other clubs you work closely with, especially older slalom clubs or those active in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

✔️ Use the Contact Page

If you find anything, big or small, simply reach out through the Canoeing Results contact page:
https://canoeingresults.com/

They can arrange scanning, collection, or safe return of any physical documents.

Don’t Forget Canoeing Photos!

Alongside the results archive, the sister site canoeingphotos.com is also looking to grow its collection of historic event photos. If you have old albums, negatives, or digital files from past competitions, they would be hugely valued.

A Final Word

This project is an incredible example of community passion in action, volunteers working tirelessly to ensure our sport’s history doesn’t vanish with old paper records. If you or your club can help in any way, no matter how small, please get in touch with the Canoeing Results team.

Together, we can help fill in the missing pieces of paddlesport history, and ensure future generations can look back on the achievements, stories, and people who shaped where we are today.

Useful Links

• Canoeing Results Website: https://canoeingresults.com/
• Canoeing Photos Archive: https://canoeingphotos.com/
• Canoeing Results Contact Page: https://canoeingresults.com/contact/  (or the contact form linked from the site)