Luke Smallman is fundraising for Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre

THCC Devizes to Westminster 2006

The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race

on 15/04/2006

The crews in training

Photos (1)

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Team members:

Luke Smallman, Julien Grouteau, John Heslop, Mattias Altin

Raising money for

Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre

Charity Registration No. 293475

Shadwell provides watersports and adventurous activities to encourage and challenge all young people to develop skills, confidence and self esteem in a healthy, fun and enjoyable way. To ensure accessibility to all, in this deprived inner city area, we strive to keep our fees to a minimum.

Page owner

Luke Smallman

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Raised: 84%

Target: £2,000.00
Raised so far: £1,673.25

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My story

Update 20-Apr-06

Julien and Luke finished the race in a time of 24:34:01, placing 33rd out of 115 starters. John and Mattias reached Old Windsor, a distance of 87 miles, before illness forced them to retire.

A full race report is available on Paddle Log.

The Race

The annual Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race, held over the Easter weekend, is one of the sporting calendar's ultimate endurance events.

Crews paddle double racing kayaks from Devizes in Wiltshire along the Kennet and Avon Canal to Reading. Here they join the Thames for the remainder of the race, finishing under Westminster Bridge beside the Houses of Parliament in central London, a total distance of 125 miles (200km). Non-stop.

The race is a challenge of gruelling physical and mental endurance for the crews, and military logistics for the support team, who must keep them fed and watered for the 24 hours it typically takes to complete the course.

The paddlers

In January 2006 four of us from Tower Hamlets Canoe Club were enjoying a couple of pints after a night paddle on the Thames when it emerged that doing the 'DW', as it is known to kayakers, was an ambition we all shared. Plans were made, training began and two crews were formed.

John Heslop [GBR] & Mattias Altin [SWE]
Julien Grouteau [FRA] & Luke Smallman [GBR/IRL]

You can follow our progress in detail on Luke's blog, Paddle Log.

The charity

Shadwell Basin is an outdoor activity centre in the East End of London. Its main aim is to promote the development of local children and young people by providing affordable access to water sports.

We aim to raise funds for Shadwell Basin's annual summer holiday programme which caters for up to 60 young people for 20 days. This engages young people into positive use of their summer time with programmes in canoeing and sailing leading to nationally accredited qualifications.

Please sponsor us to raise funds for Shadwell Basin by using this site and remember that, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Disclaimer: our club is affiliated to Shadwell Basin and has the use of certain facilities but is otherwise self funding and all sponsorship raised through this event will go towards Shadwell Basin's Summer Hoilday Programme.

	nice one Donation by rory fagan 01/05/06	£20.00
	I was with you in spirit ... Donation by Ghost 26/04/06	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Well Done !! Donation by Maz 26/04/06	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Well done Luke on your massive achievement Donation by Stephen, Una & Lewis 21/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Donation by Dave Hall 20/04/06	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Well done! Donation by Ross 20/04/06	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Congratulations Luke & Co, We are in awe! Donation by Rachel, Pete & Francesca 19/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Go for it Matt!! See you in the bar afterwards Donation by Dipen Kotecha 19/04/06	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Donation by Christopher 19/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Just don't swallow the water! Donation by Tim Butler 18/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	luke: i hope you survived. next stop the danube?! Donation by jim 18/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Well done Donation by Alison 18/04/06	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Congrats! Donation by Jessica Gogan 17/04/06	£20.00
	Don't drawn! Otherwise I want my money back. Donation by spirelli 15/04/06	£2.00 + £0.56 Gift Aid
	Good luck Luke - is this safer than snowboarding? Donation by Clive Whitcroft 13/04/06	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	idiots! Donation by Erik B 12/04/06	£5.00
	I'll think of you when in the bar sipping on my pint. Simma lungt. Donation by Matt Stromberg 12/04/06	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	good luck julien! Donation by Pippa Newbold 12/04/06	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	have a long good friday Donation by David Suttle 12/04/06	£50.00
	Good luck - I hope the wrist holds out! Donation by Marie and Dayle 12/04/06	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	have fun and keep paddling! Donation by hans heupink 11/04/06	£5.00
	Good luck Luke! Donation by Jean Ludlow 11/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Good luck to all of you! xxx Donation by Sue 11/04/06	£20.00
	Rather you than me. "Good Luck" Donation by Alan Mayhew 11/04/06	£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
	Du skulle gjort lumpen pa riktigt istallet sa hade du inte behovt halla pa sa har... Donation by Andreas M 11/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	I can't do all those exciting activities so I support you to do :) well done Donation by Suzian 10/04/06	£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
	Mattias, my "assets" could be useful to you if you wreck your kayak. I love French people as well... Donation by Victoria Silvstedt 10/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Good luck guys Donation by Chris 10/04/06	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	If the going gets tough, dump the Swede to lighten the load :) Donation by Tef 10/04/06	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Good Luck.. Donation by Ganesh 10/04/06	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

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* Total raised online:	£1,363.25
Offline donations:	£310.00
Gift Aid plus supplement:	£319.63

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.