Devizes to Westminster Winter Warm Up Race 2026 – Cookham to Elmbridge
VENUE: River Thames, Cookham Reach Sailing Club, Berries Road, Cookham. SL6 9SD
GPS coordinates, N 51,5631309. W -0,710993
DIRECTIONS - From B4447, High Street Cookham, take Berries Road (private road) and follow past all the houses and take a left turn into the car park. Marshals will be directing you. Do not drive to the end of Berries Road as that will take you to a private driveway.
COURSE - This race is approximately 26 miles along the River Thames with an upstream start, turn, and then downstream over 10 lock portages and will finish at Elmbridge Canoe Club.
There will be 3 start times. 10:30, 11:00 and 11:30, and a finish window at Elmbridge Canoe Club from 14:00 – 15:30. You need to choose the start time that enables you to finish within the finish window. Crews arriving at the finish outside of the finish window will not get a race time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
At the start competitors will paddle upstream past Bourne End Railway Bridge, turn anti clockwise around a marker (approximately 1.25 miles above the start line) and continue downstream past start line to Cookham Lock.
(Map for Start area and DW Lock Diagrams attached below)
CLASSES - On the entry form the classes are listed as A, B or C
Start A = 10:30 All boats with an expected race time of 4-5 hours
Start B = 11:00 All boats with an expected race time of 3.5 – 4 hours
Start C = 11:30 All boats with an expected race time of less than 3.5 hours
For Starts B and C, when warming up you must give way to any boats racing downstream from earlier starts.
ENTRIES : All entries to be made on line using the MRC race entry system ( Link below )
Entries Open 31st October.
Standard Entries will close on Tuesday 1st December 23:59 hrs
Seniors: £20 per seat. Juniors: £15 per seat
LATE ENTRIES, surcharge £5 Seniors, £5 Juniors, CLOSE Saturday 5th Dec 20:00 hrs. There will be No Entries on the day.
Entrants must be members of Paddle UK, either Full members or Associated Club members. If not a Paddle UK event ticket may be purchased on line at point of entry.
If you are planning and or training for DW 2027 – Completion of this race within the finish window, will count as your Qualification Paddle.
TIMETABLE:
8:30 - Site opens at Cookham Reach.
8:30 - Check In Opens. All crews must check in at Race Admin and collect a number board.
9:45 - Briefing for all Starts
10:30 – Start A
11.00 – Start B
11:30 – Start.C
12 Noon – Site Closes
TOILETS:
There will be toilets and changing facilities available in the clubhouse at Cookham Reach Sailing Club.
Toilets and changing facilities will be availble at the finish ( Elmbridge Canoe Club )
FOOD:
At the start, hot drinks and a variety of refreshments will be available to purchase before the race.
Light refreshments will be available for competitors at the finish (Elmbridge Canoe Club) and there will also be a selection of foods and drinks to purchase.
NOTES FOR COMPETITORS:
1. Buoyancy aids are compulsory for ALL competitors.
2. A Mobile telephone in a waterproof pouch must be carried by every paddler..
3. Other equipment: - Given the race is in December, paddlers should consider whether to use Spray Decks and carry additional clothing in a dry bag in the boat.
4. Number boards will be provided and must be displayed on all craft. All number boards must be returned at the end of the race - there will be a £5 charge for boards not returned.
5. Competitors must render their boats sufficiently buoyant to remain afloat and to support the crew in the water in the event of capsize. No boat will be deemed to be sufficiently buoyant purely as a result of its construction (e.g. vac bagged/ sandwich or other construction) and therefore to fulfil this requirement additional buoyancy will be required in the form of foam, air bags and/or sealed bulkheads. Random boat checks will be carried out at the start.
6. Retirements: All competitors who fail to finish must report to Race Admin on this number – 07961238543 and inform them of their boat number and the fact that they have retired.
7. Briefing: All competitors must attend the race briefing on the day, where up-to-date course information, hazards and obstructions will be made available.
8. During the course of the competition any items discarded by a competitor anywhere other than in a proper bin must be recovered by the athlete, their support crew or coach immediately. It is the athlete’s responsibility to ensure that this has happened. An event official witnessing non-compliance with this rule shall report the infringement to the race organiser and the offending competitor will be disqualified from the competition.
9. Any questions over race results must be made by the crew within an hour of the results being published.
10. The Devizes to Westmister Organisation Ltd and its nominated officials cannot be held responsible for any loss of life, injury or damage to equipment however caused.
11. You agree that we may publish your Personal Information as part of the results of the Event and may pass such information to the governing body or any affiliated organisation for the purpose of insurance, licences or for publishing results either for the event alone or combined with or compared to other events. Results may include (but not be limited to) name, any club affiliation, race times, and age category.
12. As part of the ongoing Event Risk Assessment the Devizes to Westminster Organisation Ltd will consider the Environment Agency Thames conditions; if the level of the river is judged to be too high or flow too strong, the race will be cancelled. In the case that the race has to be cancelled (due to weather conditions etc) this information will be published on the DW website, social media and through the tableized entry syqtem.
13. Competitors should be aware that the River Thames can be busy with pleasure cruisers, rowers, and other craft. They must be mindful of these and other hazards. Paddlers must adhere to the rules of the river and when passing craft coming in the opposite direction, keep river right.
14. Competitors must also follow all instructions from the Thames Lock Keepers, Environment Agency Officials, and Race Marshals.
15. Competitors must support any other paddler in distress, time allowances will be awarded in such circumstances..
16. Canoeing and Kayaking in all its forms is an ‘Assumed Risk – Water Contact’ sport. The organisers have done their best to provide a safe racing environment, but competitors are reminded of their duty of care to themselves and all other competitors. Safety is a shared responsibility.
17. Please use this telephone number - 07961238543 to report any emergencies to Race Admin on the day and retirements as noted above– Please do not use this number for any other purposes
Race Cancellations and Withdrawals:
In the event that the race is cancelled, refunds of the entry fee minus a £5.00 admin charge will be processed to all paddlers. This fee is intended to cover sunk costs incured by the organisers. Withdrawals up to 1st December will be refunded minus the £5 admin fee. Withdrawals after this date and before the day before the race may be considered for refund minus the £5.00 admin charge depending on the specific circumstances. Withdrawals on the day will not be refunded.