Geoff Tilford Former GB Sprint & Marathon Kayak Racing

Geoff started canoeing through the 1st Caterham Scouts in 1967 using canvas covered canoes which he helped to Geoff Tilford, old man of the riverrecover with his father; and recalls “I was hooked the very first time I paddled” he continued paddling at the Surrey Scout centre at Send on the Wey navigation.Geoff joined The Royal Canoe Club a year later through the local vicar, a former international sprint canoeist. After school he would wait for the Rev. Basil Pratt to appear following evening song at the local church, Basil would hastily remove his dog collar and robe and we would roar off to training at “The Royal” in his vintage Alvis roadster or on his Vincent HRD motor cycle! He survived and represented GB at the 1971 Junior World Championships 500m K2 and went on to win National Championship titles in both K2 and K4 over 500m, 1000m & 10,000m; back to back wins of the “Paddling Challenge Cup” K1 10,000m, the world’s oldest canoe race in 1972/3,. Represented GB at the World Championships in 1973/4/5/6 and Pre-Olympic Regatta in Montréal and raced International marathon events including Tour de Gudenå in Denmark, Liffey Decent in Ireland and Sella Decent and Spanish series races.

41 years on he still enjoys racing in masters events and coaching, both Sprint and Marathon and occasionally finds time for more leisurely recreational and touring paddling with his partner Viv.

Geoff has organised the annual Bedford Marathon Hasler event for the last 11 years for Viking Kayak Club.  He also organised the National Marathon Championships in 2002 and Hasler Finals in 2005 both held in Bedford.

Big 5 Track record: The Isle of Wight, The Length of the Thames, The Channel, Lands End to the Isles of Scilly (Training including Skomer Island, The Farne Islands)