THIS year's Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon – known as 'the Canoeist's Everest' — was a successful and significant event for Kelly College – with all 22 pupils completing the demanding 125 mile race over the Easter Weekend.
Exceptionally warm weather across the country meant that the event was particularly challenging, with heat stroke and dehydration the risks, rather than the more usual chance of hypothermia! All of the paddlers were grateful to their stalwart support crew, including many parents and staff, who provided fluids, food and encouragement, all the way from Devizes to Westminster.
The team achieved commendable results; winning the junior schools' competition and coming second in the overall junior event. Harry Coulton from Callington and Max Byrne from Bridestowe also achieved the fastest time for the U17s.
This was also a particularly significant occasion for pupil Ed Blackwell from Liskeard, whose step-grandfather, Dr Oliver Dansie, won the senior K2 race exactly 60 years ago and was at Westminster to see Ed finish.
The crews in full were: Harry Coulton and Max Byrne, Sam Lindsey and Mike Parlby, Ben Murphy and Ed Blackwell, Christopher Barbour and George Harold, Will Jones and Hector Jourdan, Jamie Briant and Nathan Sutton, Teddy Searight and Chris Monger, Oliver Ramirez and Peter Meachin, Felicity Massy-Birch and Anna Court, Amy Osborne and Lucy Perry and Barnabie Goldstone and Holly Southcott.