A Kent canoe club has secured third place in a 125 mile race.

Members of the Tonbridge club took part in the gruelling Devizes to Westminster - a 125 mile international event.

It is in its 67th year and is one of the most demanding open-to-all endurance races.

It saw around 650 canoeists and kayakers start at Devizes in Wiltshire, paddle along the Kennet and Avon Canal to the River Thames, and finished at Westminster Bridge in the heart of London.

Racers could compete over 4 days stopping each evening, or paddle the course over 24 hours non-stop.

After bagging the recent Waterside Series races team trophy Tonbridge’s Junior’s excelled at this event.

Joe Caisley and Patrick Cooper paddled a 2-person kayak and won third place out of 80 entrants, completing the race over 4-days with a cumulative time of 18 hours 19 minutes.

Theo Preston-Bell and Dominic Collier also paddled brilliantly, completing the race in 19 hours 49 minutes in seventh place.

Tonbridge Canoe Club also had two boats in the non-stop event which saw Lenny Clark and Shane Haughting, of Wey Kayak Club, and husband and wife crew Rob and Julia Passmore attempting to paddle 125 miles in under 24 hours with no breaks.

This was the Passmore's first DW and with a 90 mile Cheshire Ring Race under their belts they were in good stead, but unfortunately after a valiant attempt they were forced to retire due to injury.

Mr Clark and Mr Haughting completed the race in 22 hours 26 minutes beating their previous time.

Mr Clark said: “We paced ourselves well to Reading but on the last leg of the Thames tideway, the last 17 miles were a real slog!”

For more info visit: tonbridgecanoeclub.org.uk