The Devizes to Westminster will again start awarding a trophy for the fastest folding kayak from 2013.
Folding kayaks have always been a feature in the race but the specific trophy for folding kayaks got lost in the early 1970s and so the class became an unofficial part of the main non-stop event. Every year sees entries paddling folding kayaks, many of them from the military where the craft were in regular use. Units included the Royal Marines and the entrants from the special forces, including Artists’ Rifles (21 SAS).
The Tyne Trophy for Folding Kayaks will be awarded from Easter 2013 for eligible crews in the 125 mile canoe marathon.
The fastest folding kayak time is believed to be 22.26.34, by Spinks and Ridgley of the Artist Rifles in 1994.
The above video is a publicity promo on Youtube for the US Seals, who – as the video shows – still use folding kayaks.
