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THE youngest competitor in the race, 15-year-old Edward Dobson, found himself paddling with a complete stranger after his father Kevin pulled a muscle in his back two hours into the race on Friday.

Edward then teamed up with Dauntsey's School pupil Ben Baker, after his crewmate, Luke Symington, was taken ill.

Despite the atrocious weather, the two boys worked their way through the field and ended up in 38th spot in a time of 22 hours 13 minutes and 39 seconds.

Edward, a pupil at Sheldon School in Chippenham, said: "Ben and I got on really well and we are planning to do the race again together next year.

"I quite enjoyed it although it was very cold. The worst part was Henley Straight where the wind was coming straight at us and there were two-foot-high waves. We tried getting out and running instead, but we gave that up and got back in the water."

All but three of the 11 crews from Dauntsey's School, West Lavington, made it to the finish.

Pete Thomas, the teacher in charge of training, competed with Allister Sheffield in the Endeavour class and the pair ended up in second place with a time of 17:52:46.

Mr Thomas said: "All of Saturday was pretty horrendous. There were big waves at Henley Straight and Allister and I went swimming.

"It was pretty miserable and it is fantastic that our crews did so well. Caroline Fryer and Jillian Tovey won the junior female section.

"We didn't finish with our full complement of crews because some were beginning to suffer with hypothermia. But the symptoms were spotted early and they were taken out."

Peter Hutchison, the press officer for the DW, was among the competitors forced to retire before the end of the race.

He said: "It was pretty grim the whole way but the worst part was undoubtedly the Henley Straight where the wind was making three-foot waves.

"There was ice forming on the sides of the locks during the night and there were icicles on the peak of my cap.

"But people rose to the occasion. This made it a phenomenal event.

"Even people who were forced to retire will have many stories to tell. And for those who finished, they can congratulate themselves on succeeding in a gruelling personal challenge."

11:43am Thursday 27th March 2008

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