A large entry for the third race in the Waterside series saw hectic preparations for a 9am start at Pewsey Wharf on the Kennet and Avon last Sunday.

Early frost was soon banished by the sun with the occasional shower passing almost unnoticed by already wet paddlers.

Chelmsford Canoe Club entered six crews of mixed ages and experience on this course.

The two junior crews were all paddling their furthest distances to date over the 24 miles to Newbury and all completed the course in creditable times and still looked strong at the finish.

In Junior K2 Christopher Howe/Alec Richards were placed 20th out of 27 starters and were probably the youngest paddlers on the water finishing in four hours 15 minutes 35 seconds.

Cheryl Dunn/Joanne Edwards overcame some negative thinking to finish second in the Ladies K2, although still juniors, in four hours 19 minutes 18 seconds and are holding first place so far in the overall series.

Both crews made it through the quarter mile in the Savernake Tunnel without mishap and decided on a mixture of portage and paddle over the mile of summit pounds at Crofton.

Three veteran K2's took to the water. Chris Gore/Tony Chapman put in a fine performance in their first outing together on this canal finishing ninth in three hours 45 minutes six seconds.

Mike Head/Mick Barry are paddling much better together this year and managed to run the whole of the Crofton portage and they arrived at Newbury in three hours 49 minutes 53 seconds in 10th place.

Roger Edwards/Graham Howe paddled strongly for the first hour but came off the pace as time went on and they were unable to pull back on the other Chelmsford veterans finishing 14th in three hours 55 minutes and 49 seconds.

Dean Williams/Carl Williams proved they are still on form for the Devizes-Westminster race at Easter by a positive paddle finishing 14th out of 42 starters to complete the race in three hours 28 minutes 16 seconds placing them fifth so far in the series.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.