Interview: Peter Tranter
Photos: Keith Moule,
Bridget Jackson,
Andy Birkett
(Richmond CC)
Keith Moule (front) and Tom Sharpe
A chat with… Keith Moule
Keith and paddling partner, Tom Sharpe, won this year’s Devizes to Westminster race in a record-breaking time of 15 hours, 19 mins and 35 seconds, slashing 15 minutes off the 44-year record previously held by Brian Greenham and Tim Cornish. We ask Keith about what motivates him, his training regime, his favourite things to do in life and what’s in his fridge right now! Take it away Keith…
Before we start, let our readers know a little about yourself, your family, your background, etc.
I have been involved in canoeing for nearly 30 years, having started as a kid and managing to get to a good standard and enjoy all types of racing from a young age. My brother also made the top divisions, and our parents were always incredibly supportive, giving us the best opportunity to succeed in the sport.
Congratulations to you and Tom Sharpe on your record-breaking time in the 2023 Devizes to Westminster race – how did it feel crossing the finishing line?
Incredible feeling! That final straight into Westminster was a chance to really enjoy the experience and knowing the hard work had all paid off. We knew we could contribute to a bit of history writing for the event, and we were so pleased to write a new chapter on the record of the race.
Did you have any doubts during the race about breaking the record?
No doubts about getting the record. We thought we could break the record a year out from the event, and our training improved as we got closer to the event. We knew we could really attack the race from start to finish and stay focused on record pace from the very start.
How much did the KayakPro help in your training?
What a huge difference this made to my training. Four minutes on one-off x again and again and again. I spent hours on this awesome machine over the winter. Working in the city meant spare time wasn’t always on my side, but having the machine allowed me to build my fitness to take on the 15-hour race.
Talk us through a typical training day for a race like the DW.
Both Tom and I are handy runners (for kayakers), so we would often blend running with kayaking to hit the volume targets required to prepare for the record attempt; a typical day would include a 10 to 15km run and a 20km paddle or 2 hours on the machine.
What diet regime do you follow to ensure you’re paddling strong?
During the race, we had cereal bars and baby potatoes (they had to be warm!) to get us through the night. These give a great steady release of energy. Combined with our electrolyte drinks, these helped us to maintain a high work rate throughout the race.
What’s your favourite race and why?
Racing at Elmbridge. I have always had strong results on that piece of water. The river’s flow allows for a tactical race and a race that rewards a high work rate; you can put the hurt on in that race and use the river to your advantage.
What is it that you love about kayaking?
The people and the competition. I have always loved training. Training groups are always competitive and funny; these like-minded idiots in the sport made the early morning worthwhile. There are always funny stories and new chances to make memories with friends.
When preparing for a race, what qualities do you look for in a fellow teammate kayaker?
This is where the DW Paddler Matrix comes into play (copyright Billy Butler). On one axis, we have speed; on the other, we have reliability. It’s no good being fast for two hours if you can’t get to the end, and no point getting to the end if the record falls out of reach along the way. We both knew we ran a smooth boat and could hold a strong pace for four hours; we needed to build our resilience over the year to attack the record throughout the race.
Do you have any favourite conditions for paddling, or are you happy with whatever Mother Nature bowls your way on the day?
The cold is frustrating for me; if it’s cold, I find it harder to focus; I get increasingly annoyed that my hands and feet are turning into blocks of ice. The rain, wind, flow and swirls on the water are no problem; just fussy about the cold; give me +5 degrees Celsius, and I’m happy.
If you could capture just one ‘amusing’ moment in your racing times – which would it be and why?
Cold Potatoes! I can be quite fussy with the food; the potatoes must be warm. I love warm potatoes but can’t stomach them cold. When we arrived at our support crew, the food went in… one second later… straight back out! A bit of a surprise to the crew and made a couple of the guys laugh. Luckily for me, they got the camping stove out and warmed them by the time we next saw the crew.
What’s the longest race you’ve completed?
Nonstop it’s the Devizes to Westminster (201km), but I have also completed the Berg in South Africa (240km) and ran the length of Wales (360km), completing the Dragons Back race.
I’m a paddler looking for the perfect UK river; where would you recommend it and why?
Hereford, Worcester or Richmond in the summer. Richmond, on a sunny day, is the best location to go canoeing, and the water, scenery and people make this location ideal.
And a body of water you haven’t been to would be on your bucket list, and why does it flick your switch?
The Dusi in South Africa and the Molokai Ocean Race in Hawaii. Both are legendary races. With my running and fitness, I would enjoy the Dusi, and the Molokai is one to tick off the bucket list.
Any fellow paddler you would like to interview and why?
Hamish Lovemore (South Africa) always seems to love training and racing. Some people seem to lose the fun element at the top levels, but he always seemed to be smiling and loved the party along the way.
Do any other sports interest you apart from paddling?
Lots of running over the last few years. I had a goal to finish a 100-mile race, and after completing that, I did a few big running events.
Quickfire questions:
Who would it be if you could paddle with anyone, dead or alive?
I have been fortunate enough to paddle with lots of legends of the sport, but it would be pretty awesome to paddle with Herbert Hasler, the legendary member of the Royal Marines who was part of some incredible missions in the war and had our marathon series of races in the UK named after him. Those boys love to tell a story, and he had the adventures to back them up.
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
Ryan Reynolds is such a funny guy, and Christian Bale plays the type of character he was in Le Mans 66 (Ken Miles).
Do you have a mentor?
Paul Hobrough, there is a guy who taught me that confidence is key. Believe in something, work hard for long enough, and make it happen. Plus, he is the second funniest guy I know!
An ideal night out for you is?
A few drinks with friends talking about funny stories from the past, then a few more drinks until you create funny stories for the future. Time with friends talking rubbish is always valuable time well spent.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
Think how good you could get with 14 hours of practice daily for darts and a board. Darts is the one sport where the world champion can be crowned within 10 feet of someone dressed as a banana; you’ve got to admire the sport’s commitment to its identity.
What would I find in your fridge right now?
Which fridge? The outdoor fridge has drinks, and only drinks are allowed, and the other fridge mostly has cheese and a plethora of chutneys.
What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?
I would spend too long preparing stupid games for everyone to play in the garden, like shoot that carrot or a ‘task master’ event, then panic cook pizzas because I forgot that people would want to eat before the eating window closes!
What is your favourite sports team?
The series on the Chicago Bulls is very inspiring (Last Dance). Michael Jordan created a competitive environment that facilitated success. They should know that life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but if you are focused, work hard and keep going when you take the hits, you can achieve great things.
Who are your paddling mates?
The Chelmsford Empire has branched out around the country, representing the top sprint and marathon paddlers, but we still have a good core at Chelmsford. I mostly paddle with Will Stroud; he will be part of the future of the sport in the UK. Many of those guys formed the support crew we had for the DW.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Hardworking. Relentless. A bit lucky.
Any final shout-outs?
Icon Paddle sport clothing (Mark Ressel) is fantastic clothing. KayakPro Ergometer (Grayson Bourne) is awesome sports equipment. My brother Steve is one of the best coaches in the country and works relentlessly to maintain fairness in our sport.
Many thanks, Keith, for all your help and for taking time out of what I know is a busy schedule – we appreciate it.
