Guy Dresser | Oronne Communications - Stuart West and Dan Seaford took first place in last weekend’s Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, finishing the 125 mile epic in 16 hours 44 minutes, more than an hour and ten minutes outside the senior mens’ doubles record. The Reading and Worcester duo battled to meet a tough challenge from three-time consecutive winners Richard Hendron and James King of Richmond/Army.

There had been considerable speculation in the week preceding the event that the 34 year old record, set by Brian Greenham and Tim Cornish, might be in danger. The omens were apparently good – huge flow on the Thames meant that much of the river was on ‘red boards’, the level classified by the Environment Agency as dangerous for any boats, unpowered or otherwise.

However, tight water management by the EA meant that flow had reduced considerably though not completely by Good Friday.

And by Easter Saturday, an easterly wind conspired with sub-zero overnight temperatures to cancel out the benefit of the high flow.

Slow times were the order of the day and the drop-out rate on the event was much higher than it’s been in recent years and the speedy current on the Kennet and the Thames counted for little as canoeists struggled with frozen spraydecks, numb fingers and a cold, cloudless night.

It was, apparently, the coldest Easter on record – according to the Guardian, anyway.

There was less than a minute between West/Seaford and Hendron/King at Newbury, 34 miles in to the race, and the boats fought it out right down the Kennet & Avon canal to Reading, where competitors had expected the high levels of flow to whisk them towards London.

West/Seaford were 5 minutes ahead at Marsh, just before Henley. And they eked out a steady lead of some 11 minutes by Old Windsor, a gap that grew to more than 22 minutes after King apparently suffered some sort of equipment problem.

By Westminster the gap had grown further and the result was a clear win for West/Seaford, almost 30 minutes ahead of Hendron/King. Third place was claimed by Matthew Enoch and Adam Norfolk of Nottingham Canoe Club.

Lizzie Broughton and Steve Baker of Richmond were fourth, the fastest mixed-crew, and one place ahead of the women’s race winners, a highly impressive Shuna Braithwaite and Kat Burbeck of Nottingham, who were just 20 minutes outside the women’s record.

1979 mens’ doubles record-setter Brian Greenham said it would take a ‘special combination’ of conditions to beat the senior doubles record – moderate flow, warm weather and a tail wind being the ‘ideal’ combination.

You can read more about the race and enjoy some photos here.