Strong times in tough conditions on Day 1 of DW

It’s been a great first day on the opening day of the ThruDark Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race. The day began early as all crews from all classes arrived raring to do the race, feeling ready to tackle whatever was coming their way.

The weather was classically British as it moved from windy to rainy and to the (very occasional) sunshine. But the paddlers did not let this stop them as they showed great determination on the course.

Of course the day was not without its mishaps. The well known ‘angry’ swan at Pewsey made it difficult for some paddlers to continue however they did without fail, reaching portages which were navigated brilliantly. Occasional injuries slowed some down, but support crews were on hand to help.

Supporters showed up in excellent force today as they showed their love for their crew, with some even dressing up as lobsters to put a smile on their faces! It certainly worked as all crews kept happy despite some difficult moments.

The results show some excellent timings in the Junior Doubles, with Lovell and Cramer (Boat 123) completing today in exactly 5 hours. However Barrett and Brown (Boat 107) and Phippard and Francis (Boat 119), finished not long after, promising for an interesting day tomorrow. In other events, there were some amazing times with Durden (Senior Singles 714) completing today in 4 hrs 47 minutes! And our stand up paddleboarders did not disappoint, showing grit and determination, they too, ended up with some excellent times.

Tomorrow promises another day full of unexpected challenges, unwavering support, changing weather but most of all lots of hard work and lots of fun!

Words by Hannah Webb