A new world record has been set for paddling the full navigable length of the River Thames.
JOE Petersen and Brynde Kreft completed the 200km route in a double kayak ,from Lechlade to Teddington in 14 hours and three minutes – an astonishing one hour and 41 minutes faster than the previous record, held by Billy Butler and Tom Dawson.
Launching at 6.26am on the day of the attempt, the pair settled quickly into rhythm on a river running high after recent rainfall, which helped them move ahead of record pace. But the challenge was far from straightforward: they faced 43 lock portages, constant physical strain, and the mental battle of pacing such a long, unbroken effort.
Fatigue set in long before halfway. At Marsh Lock, roughly 124km in, both paddlers hit their lowest point as the river widened, flow slowed, and a sudden squall brought the worst weather of the day. They pushed through by supporting each other and focusing on steady progress.
As daylight faded, they passed Windsor Castle at sunset with 40km still to go, continuing to run their portages to stay warm and maintain momentum. Supporters gathered at the final locks, greeting them with sparklers at Molesey and lifting their spirits for the last push.
They reached Teddington Lock at 8.29pm, stepping off the water as world record holders. Their support crew was made up of fellow paddlers led by Andy Birkett, Shaun Harte and Tim Gannicott-Porter, along with Kreft’s partner Desmond Fairall and Petersen’s partner Claudia Perry.
The achievement is especially significant for Kreft, who becomes the first woman to hold the overall Thames speed record, hoping her success encourages more women to take on endurance paddling challenges. The pair previously raced the 125-mile Devizes to Westminster race together last Easter, and both have represented Great Britain in marathon racing.
Kreft told South West Londoner reporter Freya Peters: “When we hit the low and my shoulders started getting sore, I remember being like, ‘I shouldn’t take it so lightly, it’s so far.’ I was going into it a little bit more like ‘this is just a light-hearted adventure’ – which meant that I was not quite prepared for how painful it would still be.
“The next day was akin to a hangover,” added Petersen, who began kayaking aged 13. “I felt like I could move around but I just felt tired and weak. Next, the pair will compete for the opportunity to represent Great Britain in marathon kayaking this summer, and Kreft will also represent Great Britain in ocean racing.
