ON the May bank holiday, seven Melksham canoeists paddled 100 miles in days on the river Trent and raised £540 for Cancer Research and Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club funds.
They joined a 57-strong group from around the country, and camped in Nottingham Scout base.
The windy conditions at the end of day three and day four were the worst on the Trent in the event’s 50-year history and meant that only two teams completed the distance, the Melksham team being one of them.
All from WYCC, the juniors – Will Johnson, Will Beard, Scott Baxter and Cameron Antill – took on the challenge along with the leaders Craig Cook, Paul Croucher and Chris Redstall.
They set off from Little Haywood in Staffordshire and completed 20, 30, 34 and 16 miles before finishing in Newark in Lincolnshire. Paddling through many locks and across weirs, their training paid off as they completed each stage ahead of the other paddlers.
Their support crew, Ian and Sue Antill, Clare and Andy Baxter and Andy Lloyd, did a great job of looking after them and the base camp, making sure they were well fed and kept warm, running a shuttle minibus to each day’s start and finish.
The bad weather was a challenge for everyone, with the kitchen tent damaged by the winds.
The team raised £540 which will be shared between Cancer Research and WYCC changing room funds. The 100-mile canoe test runs every year on the River Trent, Wye and Seven and is aimed at young paddlers to give them a challenging event. The 100 mile will be on the River Wye next year and WYCC will be there.
If you want to train to join them or just want to learn to paddle, come down to one of the weekly sessions: · Saturday 1-3pm, all welcome · Tuesday 6-8pm, adults only · Wednesday 4.30-6.30pm, juniors
There will be a special race event on Saturday 11th June from 12pm. Come down to watch the races and meet everyone at the club. Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club is situated near Melksham Town Bridge, on the edge of King George V playing fields by the river Avon. The club welcomes canoeists of all ages and abilities, all year round whatever the weather! www.wiltshireyouthcanoe club.co.uk
