Thanks to the great DW database of results at http://www.canoeraceresults.co.uk/, it is not only possible to see "copies" of DW finishers' certificates going back years, but search results by name, club, year and so on. Armed with the information from here, it is possible to see how NKC members have faired over the years.
Obviously Norman, with his partner Andrew was the first in 1971 and Kath was there to support Andrew! In the spirit of Capain Oates (Scott's polar expedition) Norm told his mum he was just popping out to go canoeing and that he might be "some time," and went off to do DW. We hope that this year, when he went to support Fern & Cathy, Judith knew that when he said, "See you later!" he meant several days later this time! Anyway, he and Andrew opened the NKC account with 24 hours 48 minutes and there would be plenty of crews who would be pleased with that, even these days.
Unfortunately, in 1973, the weather was even worse than this weekend, with bad icing in the Thames Valley and a head wind that blew steadily the wrong way from the start line onward, when Norm popped out again, this time with George. The decision to fish them out at Putney Bridge, just before the finish (5 miles), was not taken lightly. They were a good crew to support apart from George tending to fall asleep if you allowed him to stand still for a few seconds. In the end, it was a toss up between, hypothermia, exhaustion and water conditions that stopped them finishing against the turning tide in the early hours of the morning (as you could in those days.) Fortunately Pete Roney (NKC Chairman for several years) and Taff Jones managed the course that year, in 29 hours 4 minutes after chips, a pint and an overnight stop on the bank at Teddington, as they wisely waited for the next tide.
Heather & Colin were next in 1977, with Heather the first woman to complete the course in under 24 hours. They were followed by Kath who dragged 3 partners all the way in 1981, 82 & 84. Despite rumours, she stopped after 90 miles in 83 because of hypothermia, not because George fell asleep. That was another year of poor conditions and we just couldn't get enough leg warmers on her arms or woolly tops on her body, to allow paddling to actually take place. Thank goodness for modern thermal tops!
In 82 Kath & George had taken the club record time to 19 hours 48 minutes. Actually, Kath only agreed to race on the Wednesday before, as Heather had gone sick with food poisoning. (She was a caterer at the time!!!!) In 84 she paddled with Mick, so there was little chance of improving the club score due to his ability to doze off while supposedly taking "comfort stops!"
That was really the start of the "Golden Age" when NKC members had a go at getting the time down every year, frequently with Dave Enoch, George Oliver, or Dave McAllister-Hewlings in the boat, sometimes with two of them together. Most crews managed between 19 and 21 hours until Brian teamed up with Dave Hewlings and brought the time down to 17:25.
In 1998, we did have a member in the winning crew of the junior K2. Last year, Kat & Gilly, racing for Loughborough Uni, won the Ladies K2.
Meanwhile, 1989, Adam Brewster started the NKC string of K1 runs in the 4 day race with 17 hours, 1 minute. James Treadgold, best known to us these days as the organiser of the Waterside Series, followed in 1991, but slower than Adam.
Then in 1993 came Jimmy Butler's legendary 14 hours 46 minutes. People get excited over 15 hour something times these days & make a fuss about Brian Greenham & Tim Cornish's long standing record "straight through" K2 time, but Jimmy's K1 record time, done in flood conditions also still stands. True, the organisers would probably cancel the race and send everyone home if the Thames looked like that nowadays - in fact they did once, so one is left wondering if anyone will ever beat Jimmy's record. He did do 15:07 the following year, so perhaps it wasn't too fluky! (Everyone got excited about Simon Fennimore's time of 15:13 last year, which was 3rd fastest ever.)
Apart from Jimmy, most NKC K1 attempts went down in between 19 and a half and 17 and a half hours. Paul did 17:20 in 1996 and also came 5th, so that puts Harriett's 17:27 into perspective (do you reckon he slowed her down a few times just to get that 7 minute edge.)
Also apart from Jimmy (3 times), as far as I can tell or remember, no NKC member did a K1 time quicker than 17 hours until Rich Golder did 16:32 last year. He got onto the record books, way down the list with that time. Well, let's get excited again - he managed to win this year in 15 hours 51 minutes 10 seconds, which brings him up to =12th fastest of all time. Jimmy & now Richard are the only NKC members to win the K1 race. Great result!!!
Now just let's think about Harriet! You have to go back to Anne Plant (Independant) in 1986, to find a Woman who was overall placed higher than Harriet, when she came 4th. Anne and Andrea Dalloway also did faster times than Harriet, but 17:27 is the 3rd fastest ever Women's time and the second highest Women's placing. (As far as I can tell.) It's the only NKC win by a woman in K1! Great result!!
OK so apart from celebrating Richard and Harriet's successes, where is all this going? Well start making your plans ... we can return to the Golden Age, with them and Kat & Gilly, showing us the way! There are 3 Enochs and 3 Nadals on the record books, are there more families out there ready to add to that list. We've never had many juniors do DW, perhaps that is set to change. Only a handful of members have won a class or sub-class. Now Richard and Harriet have done it in the same year, who's next?
More pictures on the next post I promise.
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