LOCAL YOUNG ATHLETES PADDLE TO WESTMINSTER
Louis Allen (16) from East Hagbourne (Oxon) and George Barnicoat (16) from North Leigh (Oxon) who are sponsored by MOLLY MAID, the UK’s best known domestic cleaning organisation, are tipped as one of the favourites to win the gruelling four-day 125 mile (or 90,000 paddle strokes) Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race in the Junior Doubles division this forthcoming Easter weekend (22-25th April 2011). Team MOLLY MAID, who split their training between Cokethorpe Kayak Club in Oxfordshire and Longridge Club in Marlow, Buckinghamshire have recently been triumphant in winning the Waterside Series for their age group crossing the line only 22 minutes behind the winning men’s team!
Despite their young years and only having been officially kayaking for some 18 months, Louis and George are growing from to strength to strength and experiencing much success. Undergoing intensive and extremely dedicated training, up to as much as twice a day and following specific dietary regimes, the MOLLY MAID team have been preparing themselves for this severe test of skill and stamina for months and months. The ambitious K2 partnership will be racing amongst talented individuals in this Devizes to Westminster race, an annual race which was first established in Britain in 1948 and completed over four stages. The first stage starts at Devizes and heads along to Newbury (34 miles) and along the Kennet and Avon Canal to Reading, before joining the Thames for the second stage at Marlow (69 miles) and up to Ham for the third stage (107 miles) and Teddington, where the river becomes tidal, ending with the fourth stage just downstream of Westminster Bridge completing the 125 miles and 77 portages!
Currently in the top three in their national age-group, team MOLLY MAID are certain to put their competitors through their paces. With the latest addition of a new custom built Kayak, especially commissioned for Louis and George, team MOLLY MAID are looking to shave minutes off their every practice in preparation for this race as well as looking ahead to the national championships in August, which they are looking to win.
With star qualities in addition to their dedication and commitment, Louis and George believe that friendship, trust as well as humour feature highly in making up a successful partnership. With such maturity, ambition and drive, it will be highly likely to witness team MOLLY MAID representing Great Britain paddling in the 2016 Olympics.
Louis Allen and George Barnicoat excited about the forthcoming challenge say, “We have been preparing and focussing on this race for months with intensive training and now feel ready to rise to this exciting, but tough challenge. We love our new boat, which we have nicknamed the MOLLY MAID rocket as we know it will help us to save some valuable time on the water. We are incredibly hungry for success and will be paddling out of our skins to seize one of the world’s greatest endurance titles! It will be such an experience.”
Pam Bader OBE, CEO of MOLLY MAID proudly comments, “We have witnessed Louis and George progress through their training over the last few months and are so very proud of their success to date. MOLLY MAID has always been a supporter of local sportsmen and women and with the rowing and sprint canoeing disciplines for the 2012 Olympics taking place in our back garden at Dorney Lake, we feel it particularly fitting to be supporting up and coming potential future Olympians with such high ambitions, drive and commitment as Louis and George. We wish them all the very best for the race and will be supporting Team MOLLY MAID all the way. Good luck boys!”
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Louis Allen and George Barnicoat
For more information, photographs, case studies or interviews, please contact Charlotte Hassenstein at chassenstein@mollymaid.co.uk or 01628 583 761
Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon:
For more information, please see www.dwrace.org.uk
British Canoe Union
For more information, please see www.bcu.org.uk
MOLLY MAID
MOLLY MAID is one of the world’s largest professional domestic cleaning services, carrying out 1.8 million home cleans every year worldwide. Initially founded in Canada in 1979, MOLLY MAID currently trades in Canada, USA, Japan, Portugal and the UK.
MOLLY MAID offers a guaranteed, flexible and affordable domestic cleaning service. Staff are fully insured, work in teams of two and arrive in MOLLY MAID branded cars, bringing with them all the necessary cleaning equipment and supplies.
MOLLY MAID came to the UK in 1984 and has grown from a standing start to 70 Franchise Owners nationwide. With a current annual turnover of over £15.3 million, which represents a 3% increase from 2009, the demand for the service that is regarded as an affordable necessity is set to expand throughout 2011.
For more information visit www.mollymaid.co.uk or contact Charlotte Hassenstein on 01628 583761 or chassenstein@mollymaid.co.uk