Over Easter weekend (Saturday to Sunday), Tim and Jon (and their support crew Sandy and Simon) took part in the Devizes to Westminster canoe marathon, the “common man’s Everest” according to the Daily Telegraph the weekend before the race.
Having done 260 miles of preparation training each, either on the paddle machine in the garage/dining room as well as on the water, Tim and Jon were ready to take on the challenge.
Two days before the race, with weather conditions deteriorating rapidly, the organisers decided conditions were too bad for the Thames to be paddled in the dark.
With snow and a freezing night ahead forecasted, the team set off for Devizes in the early afternoon of Saturday. Within the 2-man Canadian class there were a very strong Texan team who were used to canoeing 48 hour marathons and who were tipped to win. .
Steadily, Tim and Jon began to catch up and overtake other boats as they made their way through the dark. The support crews are vital in providing periodic food and drink during selected portages. It is absolutely the case that the canoeists are only as good as their support crew and without Sandy and Simon the boys would not have finished.
Having done 260 miles of preparation training each, either on the paddle machine in the garage/dining room as well as on the water, Tim and Jon were ready to take on the challenge.
Two days before the race, with weather conditions deteriorating rapidly, the organisers decided conditions were too bad for the Thames to be paddled in the dark.
With snow and a freezing night ahead forecasted, the team set off for Devizes in the early afternoon of Saturday. Within the 2-man Canadian class there were a very strong Texan team who were used to canoeing 48 hour marathons and who were tipped to win. .
Steadily, Tim and Jon began to catch up and overtake other boats as they made their way through the dark. The support crews are vital in providing periodic food and drink during selected portages. It is absolutely the case that the canoeists are only as good as their support crew and without Sandy and Simon the boys would not have finished.
By Marlow it was snowing , they had caught up and overtaken the Texans and they were heard to say:
“What types of complex carbohydrates are you feeding your guys” to which Simon replied “well none the plain chocolate digestives and jelly babies seem to be working fine”
Finally as night was falling, 125 miles and 78 portages later, Tim and Jon finished top of their class in 23 hours 40 minutes (and 40 seconds). An absolutely fantastic time beating those Texans by 20 minutes! They will be collecting their winning medals at the DW awards ceremony on 24 May in Devizes.
This was the 60th race in the DW history and no one could remember colder or harsher conditions. Of 128 entries in the straight through race, only 61 made it to Westminster Bridge. Even some of the Army and Navy teams had had to retire such were the harsh conditions.
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