Celebration tinged with tragedy – Churcher’s College wins school teams trophy

Celebration was tinged with tragedy over the four days of the Easter weekend as Churcher’s College students successfully completed the Devizes to Westminster (DW) International Canoe Race, beating off stiff competition from schools across the UK to win the top school prize.

This year the tragic death of one of the adult competitors at Westminster underlined just how challenging this famously gruelling canoe event is, renowned worldwide for being a severe test of skill, physical and mental stamina and planning.

This is the second time Churcher’s has won the Junior Team School trophy (as well as twice for the Junior Ladies Team trophy) for this extraordinary challenge and follows months of arduous training and preparation. The DW Race is held every Easter over 125 miles (201 km) from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in central London, including 77 portages along the way. This year there were 12 double kayaks from Churcher’s with 24 boys and girls competing in the Junior Doubles race class. The Churcher’s top performing male paddlers, who won the Schools’ Cup, were led by Elliott Dewdney and Tom Parmenter, closely followed by Seb Cooke and Tom Smith, Will Keohane and Ben Williams and Tim Orchard and Louis Wright. The top performing female boat was crewed by Anna Patterson and Libby Remington closely followed by the two Hollys, Thompson and Milner. The squad was completed by Joe Knowles with Bob Craig-Wood, Jude Franklin with Charlie Willcock, Max Walton with Will Hipsey, James Coni with Callum Howes, Flora Edwards with Katie Hutchinson and Amelie Lewis in a mixed crew with Ben Murphy.

Simon Williams, Headmaster of Churcher’s College, commented: ‘With 125 miles of endurance and compulsory overnight stops, DW pushes students to the limits of endurance and commitment. Participation and success in the race is in no small part thanks to the fantastic support team of teachers and parents who provide essential food, water and morale boosting as the crews run past at the portages! This is a huge success for all involved, but this year our thoughts are very much with the family of the competitor who tragically died.’

Further Information on the DW Race

The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon is a marathon canoe race held every Easter over a course of 125 miles (201 km) from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in central London. It has been run since 1948. Starting at Devizes wharf, the route follows the Kennet and Avon canal for 54 miles to Reading, where it joins the Thames. Another 54 miles later it reaches Teddington Lock, ending 17 miles later at Westminster Bridge.

Personalities to own a DW medal are former leader of the Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, TV Presenter Steve Backshall, Olympic gold medallist rowers James Cracknell and Helen Glover, and the first British woman to climb Everest, Rebecca Stephens.

There are five classes within the event:

1. Senior Doubles – crews of two adults who race non-stop from start to finish, starting on Easter Saturday, finishing on Easter Sunday

2. Senior Singles – adult single paddlers who compete over four days starting on Good Friday, finishing on Easter Monday

3. Junior Doubles – crews of two juniors who compete over four days, starting on Good Friday, finishing on Easter Monday

4. Veteran / Junior – crews of one adult (over 35) and one junior who compete over four days starting on Good Friday, finishing on Easter Monday

5. Endeavour – a non-competitive doubles class held over four days starting on Good Friday, finishing on Easter Monday

For more information please visit www.dwrace.co.uk.