37 Norwich paddlers competed against teams from all round the Eastern Region on the River Cam at Cambridge this weekend. A fabulous team effort led them to win the coveted Torvac trophy, an award to the club winning top points combined from all the categories and number of competitors. This is the first time Norwich Canoe Club has ever won this, showing their ever continuing progress in the top echelons of marathon racing in Great Britain.

For the higher division competitors the race route followed the Cam upstream through the College Backs, a picturesque route through the colleges but with the added hazard of scores of tourists enjoying the first spring sunshine aboard  out-of –control punts! Luckily there were no major incidents and all competitors successfully negotiated this part of the course, finishing with nothing more serious than a few good stories!

Outstanding result of the day undoubtedly came from young Joe Rix, only 12 years old, a pupil at Framingham Earl High School, who decisively won the Division 7 race against competitors generally twice his age (and size) or older. Joe has just spent the winter training hard at Norwich Canoe Club, based at Whitlingham Lane, Trowse, and is now reaping the benefits… a name to watch for the future.

Other notable results came from Ash;ey Nobbs, finishing 3^rd in Division 5 and the father/daughter combination of Ian and Amy Lake taking 2^nd in the Division 8.