The Devizes to Westminster Canoe race is an annual event and as such the Mayor is always asked to send off the canoeists on the Newbury to Marlow stage of the race. I duly arrived at 8 a.m. in my robe , hat and chain with Carol Currey the Mayor’s attendant at Northcroft and walked between the tents which had been pitched by competitors and some supporters in which they had spent the night. I felt sorry for them as there was a blizzard with the snow blowing horizontally across the fields and with no cover whatsoever. Arriving at the start line, I met one of the organising committee members as well as the lady starter who were well wrapped up as were their papers with details of the canoes taking part and their respective start times covered by plastic sheets and perspex. They had obviously experienced these extreme conditions before and had taken appropriate precautions.
There were literally over a hundred canoes involved; some were single and others were two seaters and I did spot a different type of canoe, which was a Canadian canoe which was so popular in the 18th and 19th century frontier times in North America. There were numerous individual competitors but the majority seemed to be from schools, colleges, universities and I noted that one was from a Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Some were crewed by father and son and there were a number of young women taking part. Regardless of whom they were and where they all came from (and I spoke to many from different parts of the country), they were very fit and determined in spite of the awful conditions. As each canoe set off from the start line, they were cheered off by their families and friends, some of whom would later be at Colthrop or further up towards Reading to give them support or food and drink as they passed towards their next stopping point at Marlow on the river Thames.
Reports were coming in that the water on the Thames was very choppy so I did not envy them having to deal with that situation. By 9.45 a.m., most of the canoeists had left and the officials were only dealing with the tail-enders who had no specified time slots. I departed with Carol soon afterwards with the thought of a hot drink and thawing out of my hands and feet and no doubt Carol had a similar idea. I had to admire the competitors who seemed unconcerned about the conditions but were focused on the race itself. This says a lot about the British spirit and long may it continue.
There were literally over a hundred canoes involved; some were single and others were two seaters and I did spot a different type of canoe, which was a Canadian canoe which was so popular in the 18th and 19th century frontier times in North America. There were numerous individual competitors but the majority seemed to be from schools, colleges, universities and I noted that one was from a Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Some were crewed by father and son and there were a number of young women taking part. Regardless of whom they were and where they all came from (and I spoke to many from different parts of the country), they were very fit and determined in spite of the awful conditions. As each canoe set off from the start line, they were cheered off by their families and friends, some of whom would later be at Colthrop or further up towards Reading to give them support or food and drink as they passed towards their next stopping point at Marlow on the river Thames.
Reports were coming in that the water on the Thames was very choppy so I did not envy them having to deal with that situation. By 9.45 a.m., most of the canoeists had left and the officials were only dealing with the tail-enders who had no specified time slots. I departed with Carol soon afterwards with the thought of a hot drink and thawing out of my hands and feet and no doubt Carol had a similar idea. I had to admire the competitors who seemed unconcerned about the conditions but were focused on the race itself. This says a lot about the British spirit and long may it continue.
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