What began as a chance encounter on a crisp November morning at the Elmbridge 10@10 race evolved into one of the most inspiring partnerships in the history of the Devizes to Westminster (DW) Canoe Race. Tom Sharpe, a record-breaking veteran of the course and Anoushka Freeman a former GB marathon and sprint athlete share the story behind their training, strategy, and shared success as a Mixed K2 crew, while highlighting the essential role Reed Chillcheater gear played in keeping them comfortable and competitive across hundreds of kilometres.
How did the partnership between you two form?
Perhaps unbeknownst to us until a couple of years later, our DW journey began at an Elmbridge 10@10 (10 km at 10 o’clock) in November 2021.
We spent the entirety of the race comfortably in the V wash but lacked the speed to do much more than that… the perfect makings of a DW partnership!
Fast forward a couple of years and we found ourselves at the Richmond post-DW party, having both completed the race in separate boats. Tom had just beaten a 44-year-old record (after a five-year campaign), and Noushie was simply pleased to have finished—having only jumped in a boat with her partner for the first time 48 hours before!
We were already talking about the next year. Having won the K1 race and the Men’s K2, it was clear Tom was ready to give the Mixed class a go.
As winter drew in, we hopped into a K2 and did Tom’s go-to DW training session AT Hampton Court and back, in the dark, in high flow and eventually decided to team up for the DW.
Tom, you've had long-term success (e.g. a record-setting win with Keith Moule in 2023). How did your DW journey evolve?
I’ve completed four DWs: one in K1, and three in K2. My first was in 2015 in Senior K1. It was my debut at long distance after focusing on marathon racing, but I quickly found myself in a head-to-head battle for the win with Sam Plummer. He had a six-minute lead after Day 1, but I managed to claw it back and win by just one minute overall.
My second event was Senior K2 with Keith Moule in 2023. Keith and I had raced internationally together since 2013, and although we’d prepared for DW a few times before, 2023 was the year everything came together. It was the result we’d been chasing since 2018.
The other two races were with Noushie in the Mixed K2 class. After our 2023 race, I knew I wanted to return but with a new challenge. I was interested in the Mixed class, and having seen Noushie complete DW with a partner she’d only paddled with twice, I knew she was a solid option.
We originally planned to race in the Mixed category, but as we trained, it became clear we had a shot at the overall Senior K2 win. That became our new goal. Although we were happy to have won in 2024, the event being stopped at Teddington left us feeling unfinished, so we’ll be back.
Anoushka, you represented GB in marathon and sprint disciplines, how did that lead into ultra races like DW?
It actually worked the other way around! I first did DW in 2016 in the Junior Ladies K2 as a school crew, having only learned to kayak that autumn. I instantly fell in love with being on the water and caught the bug.
After DW, I joined Devizes Canoe Club, then Richmond Canoe Club (during my gap year), and finally Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club at university. I spent the next five years racing marathons and sprints, but DW pulled me back in 2023. There’s something magical about seeing the sun set and rise all in the same race.
Only two mixed crews had ever won DW in 70+ years before 2024. Did that historical context impact your mindset?
That's right. In 2015, Lizzie Broughton and Keith Moule were the first mixed crew to win K2, and in 2019, Dan Seaford and Alex Lane followed.
Honestly, winning the overall race as a mixed crew wasn’t my main ambition. I was happy to paddle with Noushie because she’s strong and reliable. We had already tested the pairing and it worked. I was mostly looking for a different challenge, it just turned out we were competitive for the overall win.
I think it’s great that a woman winning DW is no longer seen as a surprise. This year, mixed crews came first and second (a first in race history), both beating strong men’s crews. It shows that women can absolutely compete at the top in ultra-distance events. Some even say women are better suited for endurance as they don’t tire as easily!
I wouldn’t be surprised if an all-female crew wins the Senior K2 race in the near future.
You reportedly trained over 760 km together. How did you structure your training?
We each aimed for around 100 km of paddling per week. That included three interval sessions, a couple of Hampton Court paddles (21 km), and a long paddle on Sundays (30–50 km), usually navigating a flooded Thames and racing the parking meter.
We fitted a couple technical drills in and around other sessions, when we felt the run of the boat particularly needed it. On top of that we each did our own cross training including running, swimming, cycling, and gym!
What are the strengths each of you brings to the boat?
It sounds cheesy, but our biggest strength is how well we work as a team. Being based in Richmond meant we could train together consistently in both K1s and K2s.
Of course, we’ve always been very motivated to do as well as we can, but we’ve also had a lot of fun, which has made the training much easier!
The race had tough conditions, canal lean, debris, headwinds, low bridges. Can you describe a key decision moment?
One of the toughest calls is pacing , deciding how hard to push, factoring in the course, conditions, competitors, and how we’re feeling.
This year’s Senior K2 race was very competitive. We started last, so we had live updates on the other top crews. Early on, we were catching up to our main competition (Joe and Brynde), who had started 15 minutes ahead.
It was tempting to surge and close the gap, but we knew that would burn too much energy too early. We stuck to our pace plan, and that decision paid off in the long run.
How do Reed Chillcheater products align with your paddling values and goals?
The Reed Aquatherm gear is unrivalled for kayaking. It’s waterproof, warm, lightweight, and doesn’t soak up water. If you’re considering DW, their spraydecks are essential, we used the zipped version for the Thames, switching to a non-zipped one for the Tideway if conditions looked rough.
Their pogies are also fantastic for winter training, keeping our hands warm without sacrificing control. In ultra races like DW, your kit matters, staying warm (but not too warm), avoiding chafing, and keeping your boat light and dry can make all the difference.
What advice would you give to first-time DW or endurance paddlers?
Noushie: Enjoy it! And remember: winter miles make Easter smiles. Try to paddle as much of the course as possible beforehand, and test all your equipment (lights, kit, nutrition) in training.
Tom: Definitely enjoy it. Focus on enjoying the training as if that part’s right, race day is much easier. Also, build a strong support team. They’re a massive part of your race success, so choose people who know both you and the race.
Photo Credits - Chris Worral