Newbury and Pangbourne crews take on the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race
Crews participated in the annual Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Local crews joined the time-trial, ultra-marathon which runs every Easter weekend – and is known as the longest non-stop canoe race in the world.
Starting at Devizes Wharf, Wiltshire, the route follows the Kennet and Avon Canal until it joins the River Thames at Reading.
It then continues along the River Thames to Westminster Bridge, London – encompassing 125 miles and 77 locks in total.
Most crews complete the course in 20 to 30 hours, while the fastest crews often finish in under 17 hours.
The current record for Senior Doubles is 15 hours and 19 minutes.
On the first race day, crews finished at Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury, before setting off to Marlow Rugby Football Club the next day.
The overall class results for the senior doubles were:
James Treadgold and Paul Hayes of Newbury Canoe Club finished in fourth place with an elapsed time of 15 hours and 32 minutes.
Alex Burt and Rebecca Bird of Newbury CC finished seventh with an elapsed time of 16 hours and 31 minutes.
Robert Whitehead and Mike Richman of Newbury CC finished ninth with an elapsed time of 17 hours and 21 minutes.
Robin Tilbury of Pangbourne Paddlesport Club finished 17th with an elapsed time of 18 hours and 33 minutes.
And James Bamforth and Peter Walker of Pangbourne PC finished 36th with an elapsed time of 22 hours.
The overall class results for Endeavour (non-competitive) saw Vicky Metcalfe and Mark Day of Pangbourne PC finish second with an elapsed time of 18 hours and 14 minutes.
The overall class results for the junior doubles saw Max Prins-Mills and Aidan Teeuwen of Reading Canoe Club finish first with an elapsed time of eight hours and 13 minutes.
The overall class results for the vet junior doubles saw Almir Balla and Serhii Pavlyshyn of Barking & Dagenham Canoe Club finish first with an elapsed time of 13 hours and 47 minutes.
The overall class results for the senior singles saw Dan Palmer of Truro Canoe Club finish first with an elapsed time of 13 hours and 52 minutes.
The first race was held in 1948 and the event has run almost every year since.
There are five classes for the race, in either kayak or canoe.
