SIXTEEN Mount Kelly lower sixth pupils successfully tackled the Devizes to Westminster Inter-national Canoe Race over the Easter weekend.

This gruelling 125 mile challenge is the epitome of challenge and endeavour, and this year’s crew produced some of the school’s best results in many years, the fruits of six months of their hard training. Throughout the event, paddlers have to camp and cook for themselves.

This year’s paddlers were Marcus Watson and Tristan Hamden Smith; Ben Dunlop and Toby Wood; Josie Francis and Richard Bennett; Olivia Banks and Jack Morris; Jemma Layden and Tom Harrison; Cara Layden and Ellana Dawe; Charlie Beacon and Ted Jenks and Victoria Moore and George Key.

For the first time in at least the last five years, every single one of the crews completed the event in under 24 hours, with the first crew (Marcus Watson and Tristan Hampden-Smith) coming in under 20 hours. This is an incredible achievement, and demonstrates how the standard of Mount Kelly paddling is improving. This also bears testament as the girls’ crew Cara and Ellana finished within the top ten of all girls’ crews in the event.

In addition, Mount Kelly’s mixed crews this year proved a force to be reckoned with. In the mixed category, Victoria and George came in 10th place, Jemma and Tom in seventh, Olivia and Jack in fifth, and Josie and Richard in third. Congratulations also go to Emily Farrington and her father, Joe, who completed the event in under 22 hours.

The race and their hard earned and inspiring achievement will remain a memorable highlight of the pupils’ lives.