The Embankment played host to some of the UK's best flat water canoeists last Sunday as the annual Bedford Marathon was staged by Viking Kayak Club.

Over 200 competitors took part in the event, which included races that ranged from two miles for younger racers, to a gruelling 16 miles for the top athletes.

The Marathon also saw kayak pairs competing for a place in the British team for the Kayak Marathon World Cup series.

The course, which started at Batts Ford and stretched as far as Cardington and Queens Park, was completed three times by 16-mile race winners Tim Pendle and Jonathan Simmonds who recorded an impressive time of 1.51hrs.

A new scheme to encourage younger children to participate was a success with 32 boys and girls entering the Lightning Class. Viking's Alaska Simpson won the girls' U10 race in 15 minutes, 10 seconds ahead of her nearest challenger.

Other local paddlers producing personal bests were Richard Harpham, Aisling Ni Chuinn, Bradley Gifford, Isabelle Simpson, James Robertson and Cathy Johnston and Janet Annetts, who competed in the double kayak for the first time together.