OMs Complete Devizes to Westminster Kayak Marathon

Tom Sater (B1 2007-12) and Rob Gibson (C2 2007-12) managed to complete the Devizes to Westminster kayak marathon nonstop challenge this year in 26 hrs and a few seconds. They did it in aid of Surfers Against Sewage (SAS – https://www.sas.org.uk/), a charity that focuses on plastic clear up through educating children in schools and communities, lobbying the government, funding plastic solution research and hosting big clear ups.

Rob emailed saying, “We did the four day event with Marlborough in 2012 but in separate boats and immediately made a bet with a few people that we’d do the 24hr. Russ Tong (CR 2001-present) was not convinced it’d happen. Well, last summer Tom found a boat on ebay for £150 (normally they cost about £2000!!) We couldn’t resist. Sadly our other bet-ees couldn’t be convinced.

Russ kindly leant us some life jackets, maintaining our low cost take on the event. Our boat (Sheela) floated and managed to take us 124.9miles in 25hrs and 50 minutes. just approaching the finish we got hit from behind by a Tourist Ribs wake. When trying to empty the Sheela of water to get back in and go the last five hundred metres the boat snapped right down the middle…. Sheela was done for. Gritting our teeth we promptly began to swim, pushing Sheela and our kit… sadly we were 40 seconds too slow to get under 26hrs but an entertaining way to end.”

They’ve already raised an amazing £5,147 but you can still donate to the cause here.