Quentin and Rick, kayak virgins, have now been training for over 10 months for the coming weekend. It has been through one of the coldest, most icy and snowiest winters for many years in order to prepare for what looks to be one of the warmest Devizes to Westminster kayak race for many years - so all that cold water endurance was worth it....

They've had their lover's tiff, their kiss and make up, their moments of 'we're doing great' and their moments of 'Oh my god - this might take LONGER than 24 hours' and spent today running around like headless chickens trying to get organised, including 'Oh shall we do some fundraising while we're at it?"

The race is one of the ultimate tests of endurance. Travelling for 125 miles in kayak or canoe from Devizes to Westminster, it pushes competitors to their physical and mental limits - so it could be a short race. But assuming they do complete a small sponsorship donation to raise money for sports and acting facilities for the children at Belmont Primary School, Chiswick would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for any support. Q and Rick


To sponsor us please click: http://www.everyclick.com/numptyandbaldy


Monday 25 April 2011

The damage...





The End!




OK short blog for a very long race.
BUT the boys did good - 26.5 hours to complete 125 miles! Coming a very respectable 59th out of a total of 151 entries in the senior doubles - only 111 teams completed the race.
The race wasn't without drama. Just 7 hours in, having busted their previous training time for Devizes to Newbury by over an hour, the euphoria was wiped out when the kayak was damaged and Quentin's footrest snapped off. Time was lost trying to fit a make-shift replacement but in the end they decided to crack on regardless.
The night was tough and by dawn the boys looked pretty destroyed. But they paddled on regardless and the faces looked brighter when they hit Teddington mid morning and began to paddle with the tide towards Westminster (despite still over 3 hours to go!).
Seconds after 1.30pm they cross the finish line under Westminster Bridge.
It was a true experience - and a supreme effort from paddlers and support crew alike.
Quentin and Rick both feeling pretty good the day after despite some serious chafing in nasty places and a rather unnatural ridge created in Q's back due to lack of foot rest. Quentin even talking about continuing to kayak....

Many thanks to our sponsors so far...


The support...




The support crew in action....

The action...






A long day AND night...