TEAMS from Devizes Canoe Club will be out in force for this year's Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race which starts on Friday.

Included in the race are a mixture of senior doubles crews, junior doubles, senior singles and junior/veteran crews. Some will set off on Friday and take four days to complete the 125 mile course while others will start on Saturday and paddle without stopping.

In the senior doubles class are Mark Ball and Steve Bush who have completed the straight through race before, but with different partners. Their race is made all the more challenging as they will have already completed the Bob Graham Round (fell run in the Lake District) and cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End. This is the third part of The Epic Tri 2019

Other in this class are: Simon Guest and Jonathan Osborne – K2 crew, taking part for the first time; Kevin Crabb and Neil Edgar – K2 crew. Kevin has completed the 24hr race before, for Neil this is his first time; Ian Thackray and Steve New – C2 crew. Ian has completed the 24hr race before as part of a K2 crew. Steve has made a couple of unsuccessful attempts in a K2, so this year they decided to try a C2.

Dan Colby and Rob Hansford – C2 crew. Dan has completed the race, both as a junior and senior. His aim is to successfully paddle to Westminster with his cousin Rob, who has been unsuccessful in previous years.

In the junior doubles are: Adam McCormick and Jonathan Langton – K2 crew. Both boys started the race last year, paddling for Dauntsey’s School but didn’t make it to Westminster as the race was halted at Reading due to the river conditions.

Maddie Wilks and Catriona Edington – K2 crew. Like Adam and Jonathan, the girls were thwarted in their attempts to get to Westminster last year by the weather, so they are going again this.

Finn Smith and Josh Mallinson – K2 crew. This is the boys first year.

Senior Singles are: Edd Dobson – K1 crew. Edd is no stranger to the race having completed 4 junior races and 1 senior singles in the past. He has decided to give the race another go this year, having taken several years away from competition.

Ali Little – K1 crew. Ali is no stranger to the DW, having competed as a junior and senior, both in a double and single kayak.

Matt Wilks – K1 crew. Matt has completed the race with his daughter before. This year is unfinished business for Matt, as like so many others taking part this year, his race was cut short last year by the weather.

The junior/veterans are: Mae Allen and Pete Clarke – K2 crew. This is Mae’s first year taking part in the race. Pete has completed the event over the 4 days, as well as successfully completing as a senior doubles.

Endeavour

Katherine Marsh and Claire Smith – K2 crew. This is the ladies second attempt at the race, having been halted at Reading last year when the race was stopped due to the river conditions.

Matt Webster and Nick Pritchard – K2 crew. This is Matt and Nick’s first attempt at the race.

Mark Bouch, Club Chair said: "We wish all our members the very best of luck over the coming Easter weekend. They have all put in a lot of hours of training over the past 6 months and we hope they all have a very successful race and achieve their aims."