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PaddlecastAuthor: Paddler Media
On Paddlecast, hosts Betsy and Billy talk to paddlers who are pushing the limits. Paddlers who are pushing their own limits, and pushing the limits of paddlesports. Paddlecast was started by SUP Racer founder Chris Parker in 2020. Since then, Betsy took over SUP Racer from Chris and founded Paddler Media, which provides independent media coverage of not only SUP racing but also canoe and kayak racing including marathon, sprint, and ultra distance racing. Follow @paddledaily @supracer and @billylikeskayaking on social media for even more paddlesports chat. Language: en Genres: Sports Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Who’s going to win DW 2026? The Devizes to Westminster race preview episode
Sunday, 29 March, 2026
125 miles (200 km) from a small town in the countryside to the centre of one of the biggest cities in the world. DW 2026 is finally here!The competition will be fierce, with returners and newly formed crews fighting hard for the win. In the race for the overall win, a Top 5 crews have become clear in recent weeks, with an outside chance for a 6th crew.Billy Butler / Jon O'Grady finished 2nd in 2024, and 3rd in 2025, and they're betting on third time lucky to finally take their first win together this year (Billy has a previous win with Jim King from 2017).Their biggest rivals will be Alex Lane / Magnus Gregory, both former international marathon paddlers who've shown that they're the crew to beat based on their results at this year's Newbury Canoe Club Waterside Series. Alex was the second woman to win DW outright when she finished first with Dan Seaford in 2019, and she also holds the overall women's race record since 2017 with Kat Burbeck (Wilson).George Durden and James Walkinton finished 1st and 2nd in K1 at the 2025 DW Stages race last year, and decided to hop into the same boat this year to make their bid at a podium finish. It will be the first non-stop DW for both of them, but they've consistently finished as one of the quickest crews on the Waterside Series, and have a great shot at the podium and maybe even the overall win.Luke Escott / James Webster have shown top results at the Watersides and are looking to get their first Westminster finish, and the Dutch crew of Jouke Witteveen and Floor Zegers are back for their third year in a row to see if they can capture the International win again. Jouke is already in the 1,000 mile club at DW, but wants to make it 1,000 miles specifically winning the international trophy. There's an outside chance for Tom Dawson with partner Aritz from Spain, who haven't raced together in the UK this year, but could be surprise top contenders if everything goes there way.The women's race has been heating up over the Waterside Series with a rivalry developing between Shuna Neave / Sarah Vernau and Anja Whelan / Rebecca Bird. Shuna and Sarah have been clearly leading the Waterside races and Shuna has plenty of DW experience, but Anja and Rebecca jumped in speed at Waterside C to finish only 2 minutes behind Shuna and Sarah, so it could be very tight.The mixed race this year seems to be filled with couples, making it the "love boat" race. Alex and Magnus are far and ahead the favourites to win, but the race for 2nd and 3rd is shaping up to be very close. Overall winner for the last two years, Anoushka Freeman has opted for a different type of race this year teaming up with her partner, Rob Perry who has taken up paddling just to race DW. They've been training hard for months, and recently won the mixed crew Waterside Series crown.Right behind them have been Simon Tilbury-Clarke / Jessica Long and Alex Bowyer / Elle Bowyer, who were separated by just seconds at Waterside C. Both are strong, experienced DW crews who should have a good battle to the finish. It's too tight to call between these crews!How to watch Devizes to Westminster (DW) 2026: Paddler Media's live stream will be live at the start in Devizes on Saturday afternoon, and live again on Sunday morning following the crews until they finish at Westminster. Watch on YouTube by going to the "Live" section of the Paddler Media channel. The tide window at Teddington this year is 5 am - 7:30 am, with high tide at 5:30.00:24 - About the Devizes to Westminster & this year’s conditions9:29 - Predictions for the Top 5 Crews: Alex Lane / Magnus Gregory, Billy Butler / Jon O’Grady, George Durden / James Walkinton, Luke Escott / James Webster, Jouke Witteveen / Floor Zegers, and with an outside chance: Tom Dawson / Aritz Martiartu42:10 - Women’s Race Preview46:44 - Mixed Race (“The Love Boat Race”) Preview#devizestowestminster #devizestowestminster2026 #marathoncanoe
