DW launches new media service ahead of 2024 race
Ahead of the 2024 Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, the DW committee is excited to unveil a completely new media service that will provide full coverage of this year’s race.
Launching on Good Friday, the Surrey Hills and Rivers DW Live Hub will provide constant updates of every class in this year’s race, from the Senior Doubles, right through to every class of the Stages race.
With up-to-the-minute live text, video and audio updates being provided all weekend long, there will be little action on the water that you won’t be able to keep up to date with.
But the Live Hub will go further than that.
The DW isn’t just a race, or indeed a challenge for the paddlers. It’s also an adventure that challenges everyone involved, from marshals and volunteers as well as support crews and the committee.
And that’s what the Live Hub will bring to life. We’ll show you the adventure from every angle, be it on or off the water.
DW is also excited to announce that Surrey Hills and Rivers have come onboard to become named partners of this year’s Live Hub.
Surrey Hills & Rivers is a community-based business that facilitates an outdoor life for people of all ages, backgrounds, means and abilities, by providing outdoor experiences through a range of activities.
As well as working with young people, they extend their provision to adult and family groups for rewarding family, social or corporate experiences outdoors.
Surrey Hills & Rivers’ sessions are delivered only to small groups and are meticulously planned, calibrated and dynamically differentiated for each group and individual, and their ambition is to provide an outdoor experience that makes a real and positive difference to lives, every time.
Speaking about the announcement, DW Director Paul Fielden said: “We are delighted to announce that the 2024 DW will see the introduction of the Live Hub - a feed that will have live text, audio and video footage over the duration of the entire race. It will cover both the Stages Races that are daylight events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the non-stop Senior Doubles as they paddle from early morning on Saturday through into Sunday morning.
“The Live Hub will enable supporters and observers of the DW to become more engaged with the race as things happen down the course - this is an exciting development for DW and hopefully will give more people an insight into this unique event.
“The DW is grateful for the support from Surrey Hills and Rivers who are sponsoring the Live Hub. Ben Webb, the company's founder, won the Veteran-Junior Class with his daughter in 2023, and has entered the Senior Doubles race this year.”
Surrey Hills & Rivers Director Ben Webb added: "It is an honour to sponsor the DW. Everyone that has tasted the satisfaction of journeying through the countryside under their own steam by foot, bike, canoe, kayak etc, will understand the spirit of physical and outdoors adventure which is so uniquely encapsulated in this challenge, and all the untold rewards of that.
“We are blessed with a free country, but in the 21st century a public adventure like this nonetheless needs all the support it can get, and the efforts and sacrifices of so many to this end, are absolutely extraordinary.
“First and foremost of course the tireless efforts of the volunteers of the DW Organisation and its direct supporters and external stakeholders, but also the efforts of all those that help marshal the course or support the crews across their Easter weekend.
“And so too the efforts of all those who work valiantly to stage lead-up races such as the Watersides and Thamesides, and all those grassroots club coaches and helpers that make the sport's very existence day in, day out.
“This is an event, a recreation and a community that are truly inspirational, and we need it in our future."