Hasler Series
Encyclopedia
The Hasler Series is the British national club championship in the sport of Marathon Canoeing, a long distance form of canoe racing
, governed by the British Canoe Union
(BCU).
Racing on flat water, canoeists and kayakers compete in nine divisions and over distances of 4, 8 or 12 miles (for beginners through to advanced paddlers respectively). Paddlers may compete solo or in doubles, in kayaks (K1s and K2s) or canoes (C1s and C2s).
Points are awarded in regional races throughout the racing season and the highest ranking clubs in each region compete in the Hasler Finals for the Hasler Trophy. The 2011 Hasler Finals were held on the River Ouse at Bedford, and were won by Elmbridge Canoe Club with 226 points, ahead of Banbury & District Canoe Club on 220 points, with Norwich Canoe Club third.
The Hasler Series and Trophy are named after Major Herbert ‘Blondie’ Hasler
, DSO
, OBE
, a distinguished Royal Marines
officer in World War II
who famously paddled 85 miles upstream, at night, into occupied France in a successful attempt to blow up enemy shipping and survived to tell the tale.
The Hasler Trophy was presented by Lloyds of London Underwriters to commemorate Operation Frankton
, the raid of the so-called ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ which was Major Hasler led. The Hasler Trophy has been competed for since 1957.
Major Hasler died in 1987 and Marine Bill Sparks
, his wartime paddling partner, died on 30 November 2002, only ten days short of the sixtieth anniversary of the raid. In 2003 the British Canoe Union (BCU) Marathon Committee decided to inaugurate a new trophy named in honour of Bill Sparks, which goes to the highest placed veteran K2 in the highest division at the Hasler Final.
One of the canoes was ripped passing through the hatch of the submarine, but the other five then had an 85-mile paddle ahead of them. Two boats were lost in the tidal race and the remaining three carried on for three days, paddling in darkness and lying up during the day. One more boat hit a submerged rock and sank and the final two boats went on to Bordeaux harbour, where they attached their limpet mines and, assisted by the ebb tide, paddled silently back down the river. The mines detonated and severely damaged four vessels and sunk one.
The four remaining men beached before reaching the sea, scuttled their canoes and travelled overland to try to reach safety. Two were captured, but Major ‘Blondie’ Hasler and Marine Bill Sparks made their way to Spain – the only two of the original ten who survived.
Hasler was awarded the DSO and Sparks the DSM
.
, a 1955
Second World War
film
with Trevor Howard
, Anthony Newley
, David Lodge
and José Ferrer
, who also directed.
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
, governed by the British Canoe Union
British Canoe Union
The British Canoe Union is a national governing body for canoeing in the United Kingdom, whose stated purpose is "Helping and Inspiring people to go canoeing”....
(BCU).
Racing on flat water, canoeists and kayakers compete in nine divisions and over distances of 4, 8 or 12 miles (for beginners through to advanced paddlers respectively). Paddlers may compete solo or in doubles, in kayaks (K1s and K2s) or canoes (C1s and C2s).
Points are awarded in regional races throughout the racing season and the highest ranking clubs in each region compete in the Hasler Finals for the Hasler Trophy. The 2011 Hasler Finals were held on the River Ouse at Bedford, and were won by Elmbridge Canoe Club with 226 points, ahead of Banbury & District Canoe Club on 220 points, with Norwich Canoe Club third.
The Hasler Series and Trophy are named after Major Herbert ‘Blondie’ Hasler
Herbert Hasler
Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert George "Blondie" Hasler, DSO, OBE was a distinguished Royal Marines officer in World War II, responsible for many of the concepts which ultimately led to the post-war formation of the Special Boat Service...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, a distinguished Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
officer in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who famously paddled 85 miles upstream, at night, into occupied France in a successful attempt to blow up enemy shipping and survived to tell the tale.
The Hasler Trophy was presented by Lloyds of London Underwriters to commemorate Operation Frankton
Operation Frankton
Operation Frankton was a commando raid on shipping in the German occupied French port of Bordeaux in the Bay of Biscay during the Second World War. The raid was carried out by a small unit of Royal Marines known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment , part of Combined Operations.The plan was...
, the raid of the so-called ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ which was Major Hasler led. The Hasler Trophy has been competed for since 1957.
Major Hasler died in 1987 and Marine Bill Sparks
Bill Sparks
William Edward "Bill" Sparks DSM was a British Royal Marine in World War II. He was the last survivor of the "Cockleshell Heroes", commandos who paddled 85 miles into German-occupied France to blow up merchant shipping in the Bay of Biscay port of Bordeaux.He was born in East Ham in the East End...
, his wartime paddling partner, died on 30 November 2002, only ten days short of the sixtieth anniversary of the raid. In 2003 the British Canoe Union (BCU) Marathon Committee decided to inaugurate a new trophy named in honour of Bill Sparks, which goes to the highest placed veteran K2 in the highest division at the Hasler Final.
Operation Frankton
One of the most daring raids of World War Two took place on the night of 11 December 1942 in the enemy-occupied port of Bordeaux in France. Operation Frankton involved 12 men in six canoes being taken by submarine to a position 10 miles south of the Gironde estuary on 7 December.One of the canoes was ripped passing through the hatch of the submarine, but the other five then had an 85-mile paddle ahead of them. Two boats were lost in the tidal race and the remaining three carried on for three days, paddling in darkness and lying up during the day. One more boat hit a submerged rock and sank and the final two boats went on to Bordeaux harbour, where they attached their limpet mines and, assisted by the ebb tide, paddled silently back down the river. The mines detonated and severely damaged four vessels and sunk one.
The four remaining men beached before reaching the sea, scuttled their canoes and travelled overland to try to reach safety. Two were captured, but Major ‘Blondie’ Hasler and Marine Bill Sparks made their way to Spain – the only two of the original ten who survived.
Hasler was awarded the DSO and Sparks the DSM
Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, up to and including the rank of Chief Petty Officer, for bravery and resourcefulness on active service...
.
”The Cockleshell Heroes”
In a fictionalised version of the true story of the canoe raid, Operation Frankton became the subject of The Cockleshell HeroesThe Cockleshell Heroes
The Cockleshell Heroes is a 1955 film with Trevor Howard, Anthony Newley, David Lodge and José Ferrer, who also directed. Set during the Second World War, it is a fictionalised account of Operation Frankton, the December 1942 raid by canoe-borne British commandos on shipping in Bordeaux Harbour...
, a 1955
1955 in film
The year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
with Trevor Howard
Trevor Howard
Trevor Howard , born Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith, was an English film, stage and television actor.-Early life:...
, Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
, David Lodge
David Lodge (actor)
David William Frederick Lodge was a British character actor.Before turning to acting he worked as a circus clown...
and José Ferrer
José Ferrer
José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón , best known as José Ferrer, was a Puerto Rican actor, as well as a theater and film director...
, who also directed.
External links
- British Canoe Union (BCU)
- Canoe England
- BCU Marathon canoeing
- Roger and Sandra Downton's tribute to the Cockleshell Heroes
- Cockle Commandos of the Royal Marines, The War IllustratedThe War IllustratedThe War Illustrated was a British war magazine published in London by William Berry . It was first released on 22 August 1914, eighteen days after the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, and regular issues continued throughout World War I...
, February 1, 1946. - The Cockleshell Heroes at www.historylearning site.co.uk