NCC tackle the Thames 200 Ultra 2026
Newbury Pirates (of the K&A) and Newbury Empire stirkes back (Created by ChatGPT)
After last year’s race, I said to Keith Moule that Newbury would be entering two teams in the Thames 200 in 2026.
Maybe it was ambitious. Maybe it was just a spur-of-the-moment remark. But I was sure we could do it. All I had to do was find another group of victims — sorry, paddlers — to fill the seats. A bunch of helpful supporters wouldn’t go amiss either!
Eventually, after many texts, phone calls and a fair bit of arm twisting, it was looking like we had our two teams.
Thankfully, some paddlers were mad enough to want to do two sections of the race, while others ended up doing two sections simply to fill empty seats. Logistics were finally worked out after establishing who would paddle with whom, which section everyone would paddle, and what boat they would use. Then came the small matter of how everyone would get to — and be picked up from — their start and finishing positions.
If we were still living in Victorian times, I’d have burnt through many a candle working it all out!
Training was underway, with some crews putting in many miles every week, while others managed to get together on the odd occasion when they happened to be in the same country.
Plans were now well underway. Mandatory kits were packed, boats were checked, and paracetamol was ordered — always a good sign that things were getting serious!
Then race day arrived!
I could go into detail about the whole event and tell you about the weather, the twists and turns, fallen trees, paddling on ponds, broken tiller bars, gashed heads and wrist injuries. But for those who weren’t there, I think I’d probably send you to sleep!
A very wet start to the day but everybody in great spirits. James led the pack in the first leg while Paul kept himself away from trouble at the back.
Jo and Tim prepare themselves for an 'on the water' handover of the tracker from James at Newbridge.
As the sun starts lowering, Jo and Tim, and Ben and Barney navigate a beuatiful but steep portage at Eynsham lock.
Ben and Barney make up time with only 5 minutes between them at Osney Lock, Oxford. Both reporting the last stretch from Godstow to have been tough going with the shallow waters, requiring substanance from support crew.
As the sun comes down at Abingdon our 3rd section crew, Ted and Dave and Ed and Phil, prepare themselves for handover. Ben and Barney have now made a good 20 minute lead which, with a few intersting diversions from Ed and Phil in the dark meant handover at Pangbourne was even wider.
Paddlers relayed as support along the way so many of them safely, if not wearily, made it to the end to collect their medals and t-shirt, along with young Adam and Ewan who supported the entire race throughout the night!
What I will tell you is that we all gave it our absolute all.
Whether paddling or supporting, everyone rose to the individual and team challenges that the Thames 200 threw at us. There were highs, lows, tired bodies, sore muscles and probably a few moments when we questioned our sanity — but there were also plenty of laughs, great teamwork and memories that will stay with us for a long time.
So, a massive thank you to everyone who took part, whether you were paddling, driving, feeding, carrying boats, fixing things, encouraging us from the bank or simply putting up with the endless planning messages.
It was a proper team effort, and you should all be proud of yourselves.
And I’m sure that, once the memories of the pain have faded…
we’ll all be up for it again next year!
Captain Paul 'Jack'son