Team IE was roaring to go, armed with paddles in hand and GoPros atop our heads and 11 miles of river ahead of us.

Competitions decided, once and for all, how many people could fit inside a canoe – nine. Another determined who could run the fastest across an assembled line of canoes – both tied and adrift – David Baker it is! A game of darts at the finish line was the grand finale.

Being that this year marked our sixth journey on this particular route, we fancied ourselves experts. We were proven terribly wrong. Casualties of the trip included:

• 4 capsizes
• a pair of sunken glasses, still lost at sea! (Sorry David Crichton!)
• 1 bruised finger
• a few bruised shins
• 25 bruised egos

Six hours and many injuries later, we closed the day with well-earned drinks at the pub.

The bravest amongst us spent the night sleeping beneath the stars. We enjoyed a BBQ, beer, and toasted marshmallows fireside before sleeping like babies.

Another fantastic year on the River Wye – bring on next year!