The School Canoe team spent the weekend, 8-9 March, completing their training in readiness for the Devizes – Westminster, which is now only a few days away. The chief aim of the two-day training camp was to experience the additional challenges of the Thames – faster-flowing water, wider channels, larger craft and the wash they create, and more dangerous weirs and locks. On top of this, the weekend allowed them to practise an overnight camp – all part of the DW experience.

 

The weather held out and the 27 miles was covered in good time. The Saturday saw them paddle the 12 miles from Reading to their campsite at Hurley, arriving just in time to get their tents up before darkness descended. Day two took them to Dorney, travelling through Marlow where they will spend their second night in the race itself.

 

My thanks go especially to Paul Crosfield, who assisted for the weekend, and Peter Morley and Sally Peers, who paddled alongside the team.

 

PVP