About DW

The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race, often referred to as the 'Canoeists Everest' is a 125 mile event paddled either non stop or over four fixed stages, depending on your entry category. The course was first paddled at Easter in 1948 by two crews of Devizes Rover Scouts, journey time - ninety hours. A month later a Sea Scout crew completed the paddle in seventy seven hours; attempts to break that later in the summer were foiled by the growth of weed in the canal thus establishing Easter as the best time to make the attempt.

Starting from Devizes Wharf on Good Friday the course covers 53 miles and 56 portages on the Kennet and Avon canal to its confluence with the River Thames at Reading, thereafter it follows the Thames, a distance of 72 miles with a further 21 portages, to Westminster. A total distance of 125 miles with 77 portages. Everyone who completes the course receives a medal.

In addition to the finishers medal there are many trophies to competed for, including the D.W. Challenge Cup, Men's, Ladies, Mixed, Services, Police, Scouts, CCF, Schools and Universities; also Team trophies. There is also an award, know as the Pfiffer Cup presented to the crew who raises the most money for charity - this has become a very important facet of the race.

Categories:

Senior Doubles

Men's, Ladies and Mixed.

Entrants must be 18 years or over on the 1st January of race year.

Non stop event.

DW Endeavour - Senior Doubles

As above but over four fixed stages.

No times recorded

Campsites available if required

Senior Singles

Men's or Ladies.

Entrants must be 18 years or over on the 1st January of race year.

Raced over four fixed stages.

Junior Doubles

Men's, ladies or Mixed.

Entrants must be under 19 years and not less than 15 years on the 1st January of race year.

Raced over four fixed stages.

Competitors accommodation provided.

Veteran/Junior:

Veterans, Men's, Ladies or mixed.

1 Veteran and 1 Junior.

Veterans must be over 35 years and Juniors must be under 19 years and over 15 years on the 1st January of race year.

This category races over four fixed stages.

Why is it so tough?

• It is long - 125 miles requiring from 15 to 70 hours to complete.
• Senior Doubles paddle non stop through the night.
• Junior Doubles, Senior Singles and Veteran Juniors race over four fixed stages.
• Every 1.7 miles, on average, there is a lock to portage.
• Paddlers cannot rely on flow from the canal/river to help them on their way!
• Paddlers must leave Devizes in time to make the top of the ebb tide at Teddington (100 miles)
• Training takes a good 6 months. Fitness, planning and diet are critical.
• The race requires determination, self motivation and mental perseverance.
• It is exhausting, hypothermia and heat exhaustion are real risks.
• Approximately 30% of paddlers fail to complete the race.

Paddy Ashdown, who paddled the race in 1965:

'We won the folding boat class. It was absolutely crippling - 26 hours. I remember saying afterwards that I could only think of one person in history who had spent a worse Easter than I had!'

Why do it?!

• To break records.
• To win their category.
• To respond to a physical and mental challenge.
• To find and often exceed their own perceived personal limits.
• To beat their previous time (or a friend's).
• To finish in a reasonable time. (Just to finish is an achievement).
• To raise money, through sponsorship, for charity. (Up to �30,000 per year)
• To take part in a club activity.
• To retain their honour after making rash boasts over numerous pints in the pub!
• It is one of the best known International canoe races.
• Because, like Everest, it's there!

Friends of D.W.

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