Canoe racers forced out by weather (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Canoe racers forced out by weather

5:48pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

Appalling weather took its toll on competitors in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race as organisers ordered some to retire before they succumbed to hypothermia.

It is not known at present how many paddlers have had to pull out, but umpires had to be convinced of people's fitness before they were allowed to continue.

Emily Dobson from Chippenham, whose father Kevin and brother Edward were competing in the veteran/junior section, said many crews had retired.

She said: "The organisers were looking at them very carefully as they came in. The weather is lovely at the moment but we have had snow and high winds."

Mr Dobson himself has had to retire after he pulled a muscle in his back and Edward has continued in the junior section with Dauntsey's School pupil Ben Baker.

Organiser Keith Bennett confirmed that wind and waves had forced many to retire.

He said: "At some points the waves were three feet high - and that's on the canal where you don't expect that kind of thing. We have had to be very careful about who continues as there is a danger of hypothermia. No one has had to receive medical attention yet and that's the way we want it to continue."

Among the senior doubles crews that set off from Devizes Wharf today was Major David Bradley from Tidworth, who was severely injured while serving in Iraq four years ago. Despite losing the sight in his right eye, part of his right shoulder and part of his right hand, he is taking part with colleague Steve Vinall to raise money for Help for Heroes.

He said: "We're both feeling in good fettle and we think we will probably finish in 27 or 28 hours."

• Print
• Email
• Share