The Devizes To Westminster Canoe and Kayak Race

Devizes To Westminster
A Paddler's Perspective

News

DW Cancellation Press Release
Issued: 31-Mar-2001 by David Anderson

The following is the text of a press release from the DW organisation on 31st March 2001:

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Due to the current Foot & Mouth crisis and following further recent consultation, the organisers of the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race re-affirm that the decision to cancel the event at Easter 2001 will remain.

As previously stated, there are no plans to run the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race on an alternative date this year.

The decision to cancel the event remains, even though movement of craft may be permitted, by the relevant authorities, on previously closed sections of water.

Further information on Foot & Mouth is available on the websites for the BCU, BWB (British Waterways Board) and MAFF (Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). Other information from Sally Peake (DW Publicity Team Leader) on 01380 818967 or e-mail sally.peake@tesco.net.

While we regret that there will be no race this Easter, we look forward to your continuing support and to running a successful event next year.

It it with much sadness that Newbury Canoe Club have had to cancel Waterside D.

This is due to the continuing Foot and Mouth problems. In particular the K & A canal passes through an infected area.

James Treadgold
Waterside Organiser
Newbury Canoe Club

www.watersides.fsnet.co.uk

Devizes to Westminster 2001 has fallen victim to the foot and mouth outbreak.

Below is appended the text of a press release released today (10th March 2001) by the organisation.

The press release, in the form of a Microsoft Word document, can be downloaded from http://www.dw-perspective.org.uk/dw2001.doc.

* * *

Press Release : 10th March 2001

Due to the current Foot & Mouth crisis and following consultation, it is with regret that the organisers of the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race have today taken the decision to cancel the event at Easter 2001.

There are no plans to run the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race on an alternative date this year.

As a gesture of goodwill, and without prejudice, all entry fees will be refunded in full.

The decision to cancel the event has been taken in order to end speculation amongst paddlers and to ensure the financial integrity of the event for the future. By taking this decision now, paddlers will be able to comply with current British Canoe Union (BCU) advice on paddling during this critical period. This action will contribute to the collective efforts of the canoeing world to contain the outbreak.

Further information on Foot & Mouth is available on the websites for the BCU, BWB (British Waterways Board) and MAFF (Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). Other information from Sally Peake (DW Publicity Team Leader) on 01380 818967 or e-mail sally.peake@tesco.net

We look forward to your continued support and to running a successful event in 2002.

Waterside C has been cancelled.

This is due to the continuing Foot and Mouth outbreak. Note that British Waterways have banned ALL non essential navigation on the whole length of the canal. Also Great Bedwyn now falls within an infected zone thus making the prospect of Waterside D happening very unlikely.

Please check the Watersides Website http://www.watersides.fsnet.co.uk for the latest information.

James Treadgold
Waterside Organiser, Newbury Canoe Club

The British Canoe Union.

Foot and Mouth Disease.

Following the outbreak of this disease (which can affect all cloven hoof animals) and following on from our previous statement 27th February 2001.

The BCU has further considered, in the light of events over the last week, issues relating to the minimisation of the risk of spreading the virus and has made the following decisions.

EVENTS and COURSES being held in infected / controlled or at risk areas to be Cancelled.
EVENTS AND COURSES to be held at site-specific venues or in areas where appropriate controlled measures can be taken i.e. disinfectant baths for equipment, vehicle baths and foot access controls, and where local authority enforcement is not in place can proceed. Swimming Pool activity, unless under local authority restriction can continue.
EVENTS AND COURSES running across, through or beside open heath or farm land where compliance with point 2 is impractical should also be cancelled.
The BCU strongly recommends that all recreational paddling on inland and coastal waters ceases where it involves portage over or paddling alongside open farm land.
Club activities, where they are based from a club venue or local base and where access to and from the river from the same access / egress point is possible, and where paddling activity does not contravene any of the above or infringe on local authority preclusions could also continue.
Access to the sea should also be considered as carrying risk, particularly in high risk areas (indeed some beaches and coastal paths have been closed). In such circumstances paddlers should restrict activity to areas where access can be gained via recognised Harbour or parking areas.
All craft and paddles used in the last 4 weeks should be disinfected both inside and out and dried out as soon as is practical.
If you have paddled within the last 4 weeks will you please also disinfect your canoeing gear particularly footwear and dry it out. <>Similarly such action should be taken after every paddling activity

The BCU asks all its members to consider the issue of traveling between infected areas and non infected areas and to seek to satisfy themselves that any decision to travel to events and courses will be supported by action on the part of the organisers under point 2.

The BCU feels it essential that canoeists are not only known to be voluntarily restricting their personal movement but also are seen to be doing so, since this will help our access efforts in the future.

Please do not go to an event site after cancellation even if you have paid for accommodation since this will not only risk the spread of the disease but you will also put canoeists in a poor light.

This decision will be reviewed weekly on each Tuesday morning at 9.00am.

Kennet and Avon Canal Closed
Issued: 5-Mar-2001 by David Anderson

As part of their foot and mouth precautions, British Waterways have closed access to the Kennet and Avon canal, until further notice.

Currently (5th-March-2001), their website (http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/) has a notice saying,

"We have closed access to all our waterways in affected and restricted areas with immediate effect. We are doing this to support the efforts of MAFF, local authorities and other bodies to help prevent the further spread of Foot and Mouth disease.
The closure will affect all non-essential use of the inland waterways, and closures will be clearly identified with notices and signs. We will maintain contact with MAFF and local authorities and will keep the situation under constant review.
British Waterways is very sympathetic to the difficulties and disappointments that this may cause to individual waterway users and to businesses, but believes these measures are necessary and important. British Waterways is notifying waterway user groups and is in direct contact with the hire boat trade to offer advice and assistance."

Waterside B Cancelled
Issued: 28-Feb-2001 by David Anderson

Waterside B has been cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak and ensuing BCU statement - more details from the Watersides website at http://www.watersides.fsnet.co.uk/

Devizes to Pewsey Wharf

This lies in a restricted area as notified by MAFF. The towpath is closed and all boats are asked to refrain from unnecessary journeys and to avoid using the towpath.

Robin Meads

DW Information Centre

DW Help Update
Issued: 27-Feb-2001 by David Anderson

On behalf of Tom Armitstead, Chairman DW Management Team 2001

With reference to the previous posting, people have now been identified for all posts.

However, we welcome anyone or a small group who want to do something different over Easter.Our band of helpers, who at the last count numbered over 400 spread over the 125 mile course, generally have a good time despite the sometimes difficult weather. So if anyone would like a challenge and help in any way, please contact us at volunteer@dwrace.org.uk where either Tamsin Phipps (Resources) or Paul Andrews (Race Co-ordinator) will contact you.

Preparations for this year's race are going well and we look forward to an exciting and interesting race!

Back to top... BCU Press Release: Foot and Mouth Disease - Updated
Issued: 27-Feb-2001 by David Anderson
Last Updated: 28-Feb-2001 by David Anderson

Update:
On behalf of Tom Armitstead, Chairman DW Management Team 2001

"The DW Management Team is fully aware of the situation and of the implications for the this year's Race. We fully endorse the BCU's advice that no training is undertaken until the situation is stabilised. While it is too early to make an overall decision on the Race we are monitoring developments closely, and will review them every Wednesday, informing paddlers of any changes."

Original BCU Press Release:

The British Canoe Union Press release 27-Feb-2001

FOOT AND MOUTH PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TAKEN BY BRITISH CANOEISTS.

The British Canoe Union (BCU) today issued a notice to all clubs and members canceling all forthcoming events and courses in order to help prevent the spread of what is called "this dreadful" Foot and Mouth Disease.

The BCU also called on canoeists nationwide to cease all recreational paddling where it involves portages or paddling over or paddling alongside open farmland. It also wants canoeists to disinfect all canoes which have been used in the past four weeks as well as any clothing worn when canoeing during that period.

"It is essential that all canoeists voluntarily restrict their personal movement. I cannot stress how important it is that everyone gets behind these emergency measures to prevent the disease spreading," said the BCU Chief Executive Officer Paul Owen today. "It is a decision we will review on Tuesday morning each week as we know more about the overall national picture."

For further information contact The BCU Emergency Press Officer Bryn Vaile on 0468 902313 or the BCU on 0115 9821100

Further information may be accessed via their website. http://www.bcu.org.uk

From DW Information Centre

Heathy Close Lock 52

until further notice
Lock closed until repairs from severe damage by boat completed

Cadley Lock 54 to Wooton Rivers Farm Bridge 109

until 28 February 2001
boats may be delayed due to dredging

Guyers Lock 54

5 March to 10 March 2001
Brick quoin works

Newbury Parkway Bridge

until 21 March 2001
Complete obstruction due to works on road bridge

Blakes Lock

proposed works postponed to Autumn 2001

Replaces all previous notices

Issued by Robin Meads

From DW Information Centre

Can you help DW 2001?

The following posts are vacant as at 25 Feb 2001. If you or your friends are interested, please contact volunteer@dwrace.org.uk

Umpires
Marshals
Information Centre staff
Timekeepers at Westminster
Newbury Check Point team (Sat & Sun)
Hungerford Check Point team (Saturday)

Issued by Robin Meads

I've been making a few changes to the site's internals lately; the main results of this are:

1) I've cleared out old messages from the discussion area, and put them in an archive. This should make the discussion area (http://www.dw-perspective.org.uk/discuss/) a lot quicker to download.

2) The news area now is a lot easier for me to update; in fact it's now set up for multiple contributors to be able to post items of interest. This should keep it a lot more up-to-date; this is important because I won't be paddling DW this year, so it could stagnate if it relies on me to post news!
I've also added a feature whereby subscribers can receive news automatically by e-mail when it's posted, allowing people to stay up-to-date.
Initially, everyone previously subscribed to the discussion area has been subscribed; if you wish to de-subscribe from the news, then go to http://www.dw-perspective.org.uk/news.php#dwnews-subscribe. This subscription is handled independently from the discussion area... i.e. subscribing or desubscribing from one doesn't affect subscriptions to the other. I might make this simpler sometime!

Mmmm... that's about all I think.
Oh yes, if anyone would be interested in contributing news, then please get in touch, and I'll see if I can give you access.

David
david@dw-perspective.org.uk
(Webmaster)

Please note that Waterside A is being held as normal. The information phone line is not working although BT have been informed and are working on the fault. Therefore please DO NOT use the number on the website until further notice. If you need to contact the organisers please try email directly to me or my mobile phone 0771 368 4975.

Please try to enter in advance for this race if at all possible. Entry forms can be downloaded from the website http://www.watersides.fsnet.co.uk. If you do not enter in advance please be prepared for long queues at checking in, no food at the finish, and a long wait for results. It is your choice.

The website and entry list will be updated when possible.

Please note that the one way road bridge at Newbury Wharf is closed and access to the Waterside Centre will be via a diversion. There will be maps at the start and information given at the briefings.

James Treadgold
Waterside Organiser
Newbury Canoe Club

Good Friday 2001 will be on the 13th of April. Entry forms can be downloaded from http://www.dwrace.org.uk/howtoenter.html.

**High Water at Teddington 2001**
Easter Saturday (14th April)	BST 0731 and 1946
Easter Sunday	BST 0815 and 2026
Easter Monday	BST 0907
Easter Monday Starts	SS 0837, JD/JV 0907

High tide at Westminster occurs 51 minutes earlier each time.To help you calculate the optimum time to leave Devizes and be at Teddington, why not use the Teddington Tide Timer?


*Could be dark...*	*Very dark...*	*Even darker than this!*

Devizes to Westminster 2000 has been abandonned; see http://www.dw-perspective.org.uk/2000abandonned.php for details as they come in.

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The following stories are no longer current, but are available in the news archive:

One Hundred Thousand Pages (26-Apr-2000)
Tide Times at Teddington 2000 (11-Jan-2000)
Senior Doubles Start Times 2000 and Rule Ammendments (11-Jan-2000)
Easter 2000 (5-Apr-1999)
Waterside D 1999 (26-Mar-1999)
Waterside C 1999 (8-Mar-1999)
Waterside B 1999 - postscript (4-Mar-1999)
Procedure for Ham start (day 4) 1999 (24-Feb-1999)
Waterside B 1999 (24-Feb-1999)
Waterside A 1999 (9-Feb-1999)
Works on the Canal (8-Feb-1999)
Site News (1-Jan-1999)
Senior Doubles Start Times 1999 and Rule Ammendments (22-May-1998)
Tide Times at Teddington 1999 (5-May-1998)
DW 1998 Presentations (4-May-1998)
Damage caused on DW 1998 (4-May-1998)
Easter 1999 (28-Apr-1998)
DW Weather Forecast: Prepare to be distressed (8-Apr-1998)
Kennet Pollution (6-Apr-1998)
DW Anecdotes - can you help? (3-Apr-1998)
Teddington Tide Timer (3-Apr-1998)
Waterside C (15-Mar-1998)
Easter 1998 (1-Feb-1998)
Senior Doubles Start Times 1998 and Rule Ammendments (1-Feb-1998)
Race Results (1-Feb-1998)
Tide Times at Teddington 1998 (1-Feb-1998)