Next race 22nd to 25th April 2011
Paddler & Entry Information
HOW TO ENTER THE RACE
Choose which class you wish to enter. The options are:
  Senior Doubles
crew of 2 adults, non-stop
  Senior Singles
crew of 1 adult, over 4 days
  Junior Doubles
crew of 2 juniors, over 4 days
  Veteran Junior
1 adult over 35 and 1 junior, over 4 days
  Endeavour
crew of 2 (2 adults / 1 adult and 1 junior), over 4 days, non-competitive
  For full qualification criteria, please check relevant Class Rules. We urge those expecting to take over 28 hours in the Senior Doubles event to consider entering the Endeavour class instead to avoid placing excessive demands on our volunteer marshals and checkpoint crews.
Note the required entry fee:
  Senior Doubles £135   The Organisation will charge a late fee for refused or post-dated cheques or normal cheques received late. The late entry fee is an additional 30% of the normal fee. The deadline for late payment is defined by, letters posted 1st class and postmarked no later than the Friday two weeks before Good Friday. Entries handed to the Entries Secretary personally at the Waterside D race will be accepted without a late fee. All fees must be paid before starting the race.
  Senior Singles £94
  Junior Doubles £188
  Veteran Junior £150
  Endeavour £150

Team Entries
  Team entries should be submitted at Devizes prior to the start of the race. Entries must be submitted before any paddler in the team has left Devizes. Please note also that even if a club, school, military unit etc only has 3 paddlers competing, a formal entry must be submitted. Entries should be submitted to the Competition Secretary who will be present at Devizes Wharf and who is normally contactable at the Bear Hotel on the evening before the race.
Entrants should be members of the British Canoe Union (BCU)
  To join, please click the following button. If you are not a member, you must obtain licences from the British Waterways Board and the Environment Agency to permit you to paddle on the course.
 
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Completing Online Entry
  You must enter online so that all your information can be downloaded automatically. This avoids the risk of manual input errors and ensures trophies are correctly awarded. Fill in the form and then select your method of payment. You may pay by cheque or online through Paypal. If paying by cheque, print out the Cheque Advice Note and post this to the Entry Secretary along with your cheque
 
Entries for 2011 are not yet open
 
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RULES

  General Rules
   2011 rules will be posted in autumn 2010
  Emergency Response Plan  
  Advice to Competitors and their Supporters  
  Start times for Stages Race Easter  
  Senior Doubles Rules  
  Junior Doubles Rules  
  Senior Singles Rules  
  Veteran Junior Doubles Rules  
  Endeavour Doubles Rules  
  Devizes to Westminster Race Trophies  
       
  [Each PDF document open in a new window]
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COURSE DETAILS AND TIDE TIMES
 
Locks closed to support crews
For information on locks where access is not permitted to support crews, please see "Advice to Competitors and their Supporters" and any race day announcements.
 
High tide at Teddington
 
 
Course Mileages & List of Checkpoints
Click here for the chart  [Word document - opens in new window]
 
Portage Diagram

Click here for portage diagrams  [PDF document - opens in new window]
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TRAINING ADVICE
 
General Comments
  • Join a club and learn correct technique

  • Concentrate, above all, on training in the boat

  • It is not normally helpful to cover distances greater than 35 miles in training

  • Practice portaging as there are 77 in the race and they can cost a lot of time

  • Train in the dark – this is a must for Senior Doubles and can be necessary for all

  • Learn the course – this is vital, especially for Senior Doubles

  • Incorporate your support crew in your training so they know what you need

  • Practise capsize drills in a safe environment

  • Choose a stable boat that you can handle, particularly vital on the tidal section

  • Always wear buoyancy aids during training
Learning From Others
  • Talk to people who have done the race and pick their brains

  • We strongly recommend Brian Greenaway’s book – “The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race” which is available from the DW shop

  • Take a look at these training guides provided by BCU National Development Coach John Handyside. Devizes Westminster Training (click here for a PDF, opens in a new window) provides an overview of planning and preparing for a DW campaign. Devizes to Westminster Race Final - A Checklist (click here for a PDF, opens in a new window) provides a checklist of what you need to do. Don't leave it to the last minute to open this one.
Training Seminars
  • Marsport run free seminars, explaining all aspects of the race. The dates of the 2010 seminars will be announced in due course. They are held at the Wokingham Waterside Centre near Reading. Full details at DW Seminars. For further details, contact Marsport on 0118 966 5912.
Training Days
  • Marsport run training days at £50 per paddler and £20 per supporter which provide comprehensive practical tuition, on land and on water, of the skills required for DW. Dates for 2010 to be announced in due course. Full details at DW Training Days. Contact Marsport on 0118 966 5912 for further information.
Warm Up Races
  • We strongly recommend that paddlers should enter as many of the Thameside and Waterside series races as possible. They offer excellent opportunities to learn the course, practise portaging, become accustomed to your boat and for support crews to learn their role. Details of these races may be found through the Links section of this website.
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ACCOMMODATION
 
Paddlers or supporters requiring overnight accommodation in Devizes or along the course are advised to contact the relevant tourist offices. Their web addresses and telephone numbers are available on the “Advice to Competitors and their Supporters” document which is posted in the Rules section above.
 
Free accommodation is also available in the Scout Headquarters and/or the Corn Exchange in Devizes on Thursday night. Sleeping bags will be necessary. Under no circumstances may boats be taken into the buildings. Competitors in the Senior Doubles have the use of the Scout Headquarters but not the Corn Exchange on Good Friday night. Crews must rise in time to clean up and put all refuse in the bin provided. Please note there is no access to the Corn Exchange after 10 pm as the doors are locked at that time.
 
There is no need for advance booking of either the Corn Exchange or the Scout Headquarters but please arrive in good time.
 
 

This map shows Devizes with various useful locations highlighted.
 
You can drag the map around with your mouse or zoom in & out with the slide bar on the left. Click the entries in the list on the right to locate them on the map.
 
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