Our The next section from Reading to Teddington lock is where the majority of crews drop out. This is around 40 miles and is paddled at night. With a heavy cloud cover, navigating our way around the windy river was very difficult. Other crews were also struggling and a crew in front of us narrowly avoided going over a weir, which would have been a fatal mistake. This helped to focus the mind as we quickly realised that one wrong mistake and there was more than not finishing at stake.
Fundraisers
We arrived at Westminster as Big Ben chimed 11am. This is no London marathon and a crowd of maybe 100 cheered us over the line. We were helped from our boat by the marshals and walked arm in arm up the stairs of County Hall. All those months of training had paid off and we had made it in 22 hours and 58 minutes, 1 hour ahead of our planned schedule. We were both too tired and drained for any celebrations, but with our medals around our necks we limped back to our cars and headed home for a much needed shower. Our achievement really came home when we were told that out of the 160 boats that started the race 60 retired. In the end we will raise around £9,000 for CRY and Help for Heroes. We just need to find our next challenge, maybe the Atlantic.....” David Woodcock.
We battled through the night to Teddington with our support crew constantly pushing us on and ensuring we were taking on lots of fluids and fuel. There were some low points, Ed lost the feeling in his right leg during the night which never came back (until a week after the race) and I was really struggling with my wrists. The 90,000 paddle strokes that we would make during the race were beginning to take effect as was the sleep deprivation. Our minds were playing tricks on us and at one point I thought I saw a waterfall, which on the Thames would have been amazing! As dawn started to break our spirits were lifted and we knew we just had to dig in and we would be at Westminster before we knew it. We pulled in to Teddington right on schedule and were greeted by our support crew and a few brave friends who had dragged themselves out of bed at 6am on a Sunday morning. We took on some fresh supplies, lots of energy gels and pushed on to Westminster.
In Memory of Alex Roberts The Brook Pub team took part in the CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk 2010 and raised £200. The Brook Pub team were Vince Barker, Andy Boro, Trevor Cooper, Barney Goldhawk, Nobby Harper, Stacey Harper, Scott Hilsden, Mel Hughes, Steve Lawford, Ami Mcevoy, Richie Rich, Andy Roberts, Craig Roberts, Fiona Roberts, Paul Roberts, Floyd Robinson, Lauren Robinson, Tracie Robinson, Cassi Roper, Kirsty Roper, Buzz Wilkerson, Alison, Andy, Nocker and Sharon. In Memory of Luke Rogers • Angela Rogers sent in a donation of £250.
• Angela Rogers sent in a donation of £540 from the sale of books and a donated caravan awning.
In Memory of Liam Ross and Martha Weaver We have received a donation of £130, in lieu of floral tributes, in memory of the late Martha Weaver. In Memory of Thomas James Saunders We have received a donation of £725, in lieu of floral tributes, for the late Thomas James Saunders who passed away on 12th April 2010. In Memory of Stewart Sands Derek and Geraldine Sands sent in cheques totalling £450. “This was raised at a charity function run by Lawford Scouts in memory of our son Stewart, a member of the Scouts.” In Memory of Neil Schuyleman Debbie Collett, Fiona Collett, Andy Davies, Georgie Davies, Helen Davies, Peter Davies, Ann Edwards, Emma Edwards, Alexia Georgakakos, Anna Geogakakos, Hugh King, Janice White, Cathi Wye, Kenton Wye, Monica and Susie took part in the CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk 2010 and raised £1,035.
www.c-r-y.org.uk
CRY update • Issue 52 • 41