The Royal Hospital School took all three Junior Team trophies at this year’s Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon – the best School Team, best CCF (combined cadet force) Team and best Junior Team overall.
Around 600 kayakers and canoeists took part in the 125-mile race this Easter weekend, pitting their skill, physical and mental stamina and determination against one the toughest endurance events in the world. The Senior Doubles complete the course non-stop, through the night, to finish at Westminster Bridge on Easter Sunday while the 15-19 year olds must complete the course over four days, dragging weary bodies into boats for each stage of the demanding race.
The course is from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in the heart of London following the Kennet & Avon Canal, joining the River Thames at Reading down to Teddington, where the river becomes tidal for the final stretch down to Westminster. The canal is far from plain paddling as it includes 56 locks; all of which have to be portage – the crew must carry their boats out of the water and around the lock. There are a further 20 locks on the River Thames as well as weirs, pleasure crafts and angry swans! 125 miles in total or around 90,000 paddle strokes (give or take a few thousand).
Two RHS Teams were entered into the Junior Section; four double crews in Team A, three in Team B and a further double crew entered the Senior Endurance Class. The Junior Section was introduced in 1953 so that younger competitors could compete without the possible danger to health involved in continuous paddling for a whole day and night. They covered the course in four legs of 34, 36, 38 and 17 miles camping at Newbury, Marlow and Ham before completing the course on the ebb tide on Easter Monday morning.
The 15 RHS pupils put in months of training and preparation under the expert guidance of teachers and veteran paddlers, Lee Menday and Les Thomas, with superb qualifying times and good prospects in the run up to the fiercely competitive Junior Class event.
The A Team of Rhys Evans, Errol Drummond, Luke Jones, Monty Beaton, Toby Seabright, Joseph Simmons, Oliver Bourne and Thomas Simkins were victorious in all three junior categories – 1st place in the Schools Doubles, 1st place in the CCF Doubles and overall 1st place in the Junior Doubles. The B Team of Sophia Murrison, Richard Branch, Oliver Ainsworth, Tom Lazenby, Anran Chen and George Turner also gave an outstanding performance gaining 3rd place in the CCF Doubles and 9th place overall. James Yarde, currently in Year 13, entered with former RHS pupil Tom Simmons into the Endeavour Class gaining 4th place overall and a time of 22:30:41 hours – a superb result in this senior class as late entry limited training.
Lee Menday, DW team coach and teacher at the Royal Hospital School, said, “1st place overall in the Junior Team Trophy is the pinnacle of achievement for us – RHS were the best junior canoeists across all the clubs, schools and CCF teams entered this year. This did not happen without a great deal of hard work from the pupils and the support team behind them – 3 years of planning and preparation in all! Support during the actual event is crucial as well and over the Easter weekend we saw around 40 parents, siblings and friends on the banks distributing water and snacks to avoid dehydration and give all-important energy boosts. A further 60 supporters were at Westminster Bridge to welcome our teams home which was hugely appreciated. As well as current pupils, a number of former pupils took part having gained their enthusiasm for the sport at the Royal Hospital School.
Our star crew of Rhys Evans and Errol Drummond achieved an incredible time of just over 19 hours and 5th place overall but this was not without an eventful start! A broken rudder looked set to destroy their prospects but the boys sprinted with their canoe to the next lock for assistance loosing just 10-15minutes in the process. These boys are the most unbelievable athletes and technically, so focused. I am very proud of all our crews – they gave every ounce of their energy and demonstrated amazing team spirit – I congratulate each and every one of them and look forward to taking them to receive their trophies at Pewsey on 26 May.”
Results
A Team – 1st Junior Doubles, 1st CCF Junior Doubles, 1st Schools Junior Doubles
Rhys Evans and Errol Drummond 19:03:14 61:12:02
Luke Jones and Monty Beaton 20:35:23 (best three times each day counted)
Toby Seabright and Joseph Simmons 21:33:25
Oliver Bourne and Thomas Simkins 21:58:39
B Team – 9th Junior Doubles, 3rd CCF Junior Doubles, 9th Schools Junior Doubles
Sophia Murrison and Richard Branch 22:55:39 71:45:18
Oliver Ainsworth and Thomas Lazenby 23:53:05 (all three times counted)
Anran Chen and George Turner 24:56:34
Endeavour Doubles – 4th Endeavour Doubles
James Yarde and Tom Simmons 22:30:41