2025 ThruDark DW start list revealed

It’s nearly time for the 2025 ThruDark Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race to get underway! The paddlers have completed all of their training and entries are now in!

And with the entry list having now been compiled, we’re delighted to share the start list for this year’s race, the 75th edition of the ThruDark Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race.

Notable entrants returning to the race are last year’s winners Tom Sharpe and Anoushka Freeman. They’ll be aiming to retain their Senior Doubles crown for a second consecutive year. Last year’s runner-ups, Billy Butler and Jon O’Grady also return to try and fight for the win, while Edd Dobson and Mike Rees-Clark who were third last year, also return but this time in a different class.

The pair have swapped their K2 for a C2 this year and they will no doubt have one eye on winning the 2025 C2 class.

Olympic skier and Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell is also taking part in the Senior Doubles, while canoe slalom olympian Fiona Pennie-Douglas will take on the straight-through event with her partner Kat Wilson.

In the Junior Doubles class, this year’s Waterside Series winners Tom Barrett and Theo Brown will be on the course racing for Kimbolton School, and they will be going all-out to win the 2025 title. That will also likely be the same approach for the Marlborough College crew of Aston Stevenson and Joshua Taylor who were runners-up in the Waterside series.

The Senior Singles class features another strong line-up this year. 20 paddlers will be tackling that class this year, including Waterside Series runner-up James Walkinton and experienced DW paddlers, Tim Beaver, Aksel Hadberg. 2014 K1 winner Radek Zielski also returns for this year’s event. Can he win again, 11 years after his last victory?

There’s two entries for DW’s all-new class for this year: SUP. Patrick McCormack will be heading over from Ireland to take on the race, and will be going head-to-head with Emily King as the pair battle to become DW’s first SUP class winner.

In the Junior/Veteran class there’s three entries. Colin Davies & Gabe Davies will be going up against the Devizes Canoe Club crew of Ian Tait & Daniel Tait as well as the Lords Wandsworth College pair of Joshua Coleman & Robert Bullion.

And in the Endeavour class, there’s nine crews entered who are taking on the race over four days to complete the challenge of making it from Devizes to Barn Elms.

For full entry details, just click on the button below, and good luck to everyone taking part!