HEREFORD Kayakers are celebrating winning the team prize at an international endurance event for the first time in 32 years.

For the first time since 1985 Hereford Kayak Club have won the fastest team at the Devizes to Westminster International125-mile canoe race.

The race saw 200 teams starts individually at Devizes, Wiltshire, before kayaking along the Kennet and Avon canal for 55 miles to reach the Thames at Reading. Crews then continue through the night for a further 70 miles to Westminster.

Veteran rowers Steve King, 44, and Shaun Thrower, 56, showed their stamina to complete the course in 18 hours and 44 minutes, giving them 4th overall and first veteran kayakers, the winners finishing in around 18 hours.

"We had 100 years of experience in our boat so we don't really get going until about 10 hours into the race," said King.

"The faster crews are usually the last ones to leave so you have an idea how you are doing before the end but we still had to wait for the results."

Not only did competitors have to cope with the endurance kayaking but also had to run with their boats passed the 77 locks on route.

"We don't stop during the race only and when we get to a lock we have to get out and run with the boat.

"It is also an opportunity for our support crew to give us fresh water bottles and food as they prove to be a vital part of the team."

Hereford Kayakers thrived during the long distance event with Sam Clarke & Paul Carpenter finishing in 23h 23m while Theo Victor Trott & John Jackson 20h 33m

This gave them a total team aggregate time of 62h 41m.