Father And Son Taking On Marathon Canoe Race

Saturday, 16 April 2022 08:00

A Jersey father and son are taking on one of the toughest endurance races in the world to raise money for charity.

Richard and Alex Haine are competing in the Endeavour category of the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race.

It takes place over three days, covers more than 100 miles and includes 77 'portages', where competitors leave the water and carry their canoes or kayaks to the next water stage.

Covid restrictions mean the race is a bit shorter this year than it was pre-pandemic.

Richaard and son Alex, who has just turned 30, have completed challenges to qualify for the marathon event.

"As part of this process, we spent a couple of days on the Kennet and Avon Canal undertaking some practice and then taking part in an organised preliminary event of 13 miles. This included over 20 portages - running with the kayak around locks and low swing bridges.

The final two hurdles required for the race entry were to attain the qualifying standard of 30 miles+ on open water in a time of under 8 hours, which we achieved on the Lancaster Canal, and then, (the nail-biting bit!), when we put in our entry online, together with evidence of standard attainment in the form of a GPS record, and sat back and waited to see if we had been given a place.

We were thrilled when the confirmation of the acceptance of our entry came through on March 7th together with our allocated boat number - 604."

They are raising money for Kairos Arts, which creates and facilitates therapeutic creative workshops.

The pair have set up a JustGiving page for donations.

The charity is tracking their progress over the Easter weekend.