The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race is the longest non-stop canoe race in the world. It starts in the quiet market town of Devizes in Wiltshire and finishes 125 miles later at Westminster Bridge, directly opposite the Houses of Parliament in the heart of London.

It is held over the Easter weekend each year and has been a fixture in the British sporting calendar since 1950. But DW is much more than just a canoe race - it’s an adventure! It forces competitors to dig long and deep into their reserves of physical and mental stamina which is why the race is often called “the canoeists’ Everest”.

Having the technical skill to paddle a kayak or canoe is essential but the most important quality needed to complete DW is raw determination. And the reward for making the mighty effort needed to cross the finish line is a sense of satisfaction so profound that many paddlers can’t resist coming back year after year.

The race can either be completed in one continuous effort or paddled over four days. The Senior Doubles event (often called the straight-through race) is non-stop and is exclusively for adult paddlers in a two person boat. The Senior Doubles crews set off from Devizes and simply don’t stop till they get to Westminster, 125 miles and 77 portages later. For elite crews, this journey may take 17 or 18 hours – the race record has stood since 1979 at an incredible 15 hours and 34 minutes - but it is a real achievement to break 20 hours and the bulk of paddlers take around 24. But however quick a crew is, everyone has to paddle through the night. Coping with deep fatigue in the hours of darkness is just one of the challenges facing DW paddlers in the straight-through race.

Alternatively, the race can be done, in daylight, over 4 days. On the first day paddlers cover 34 miles, then 36, 38 and, on the final day, a mercifully short 17. The competitive 4 day classes include Junior Doubles, Senior Singles, and Veteran / Junior Doubles. Do not mistake the 4 day events for a soft option. Each day sees intense racing and the cumulative toll this takes on body and soul is considerable. Some of the most exciting racing, from a spectator point of view, takes place in these classes because the boats do not get so strung out as in the straight-through event.

Finally, there is a non-competitive 4 day Doubles category – the Endeavour Class - for adults who prefer to take their time and enjoy the beautiful scenery the Thames Valley has to offer.