THRUDARK DEVIZES TO WESTMINSTER "THE CANOEIST'S EVEREST"

The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race is the world’s longest non-stop canoe race. The race starts in Devizes, Wiltshire, finishing at Westminster Bridge in central London, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Taking place over the Easter weekend, it’s a gruelling course, 125 miles long with no fewer than 77 portages. It’s for this reason that the event is known as the “canoeist’s Everest”. 

The race itself is non-stop and, as a time trial event, paddlers rely on choosing the correct start time in order to hit the tidal section of the River Thames when the tide window opens. The current record for the Senior Doubles class stands at 15hr 19m and 25 seconds for the 125 mile route. It’s a real race of attrition with a high “did not finish” rate given the arduous distance and physical demands combined with the added complication of tide times.

The origin of the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race begins with a group of men in “The Greyhound” pub in Pewsey, just outside Devizes. The year was 1920 and a national rail and bus strike loomed, so the group decided a journey by river might be the best alternative - and so a wager was had. Four men took up the challenge and completed the route from Pewsey to the sea at Christchurch in under three days, a journey of some 70 miles.

It wasn’t until 1946 that the challenge presented itself again, three RAF men and a local farmer taking on the task and reaching the sea in just 51 hours. In 1948 an alternative course from Devizes to London was successfully completed by Devizes Scouts and this garnered attention from Richmond Canoe Club and the UK special forces, Royal Marines and Paratroopers, growing in notoriety and difficulty as competition heated up between rival regiments. The race soon proved popular with, and was dominated by, the Royal Marines given the similarity with active service and the exploits of military canoeists.

It’s for this reason that ThruDark is proud to sponsor the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race 2025. As former Special Boat Service Swimmer Canoeists, ThruDark co-founders Staz and Louis are proud to be sponsoring an event with such a proud military connection.