The Charity Race of the year

The second Great Harlesden Charity Canoe Race took part on Wednesday 24th September, raising money for local charities, the Brent Food Bank and Queens Park Rangers Community Trust. Both these charities support local people.

This year seven teams took part from 4 local companies, unfortunately QPR could not take part this year due to other commitments, but did provide tickets for the winning team to go and watch a home match or their choice.

Heat one

Three heats took place and the first was a highly charged affair as “The Champions” Murphy’s winning team form last year were against “The Biscuiters” a team from McVities were neck and neck and there was defiantly some competitive shenanigans going on between them. The Murphy’s team time was 4:38 with McVities team 4:43. The third team in the heat was from Garden Studios, ” The Thorn in Your Side”, and took 7:01.

Heat two

Heat two was not with out incident as Murphy’s, “Rubber Dinghy Rapids” team failing to finish as the lost paddlers along the route! leaving McVities team “The Winners” to claim the heat in a time of 4:28.

Heat three

The final heat was a competitive one as OPDC’s team “Thrive” team took on Murphy’s “Virgins”, with the Virgins coming out on top in a rushed time of 3:57, Whilst Thrive took 4:08.

The run off

After s Stewards Enquiry, a run off between “The Buscuiteers” and “The Champions” was agreed with the proviso that if either (or both teams) beat the times of the other finalists, the would compete in the final, the Murphy’s team came in first with a time of 4:59 and McVities took 5:34.

The Final

Doing it for the second time “The Virgins” beat “The Winners” whilst “Thrive” were third.

The Virgins final time was 3:57, got to give them credit for consitancy!

“The Winners” weren’t but did give a creditable race finishing in a time of 5:10, quite a bit slower than their heat time, maybe we can arrange for some training before next year’s race?

“Thrive” again showing a slowing with a time of 5:15.

A big thank you to every one who took part, for supporting the race and helping us to raise peony for the charities, thank you to those who made the race possible and to QPR for donating the tickets.

If you would like to donate money to the cause please let us know, you can pay into our Fund at: The Sharks Sports Group CIC, Sort Code: 08-92-99, A/C Number: 67417911, please reference the payment Harlesden Charity Race.

Next Year’s race will take place on Wednesday 30th September 2026, let us make it even bigger and better, for more information call/text on 07951 770241 or email: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk. This is what you are aiming to win …

Published on Monday 29th September