The Head of the Dart SUP Challenge 2026 held on 12th April had 233 paddlers lining up across race, leisure, and team categories on the tidal River Dart, UK.
Fast conditions and a flowing course set the tone early, with current-assisted lines and clean water helping produce some standout times across the board.
Race Highlights
14’ Race Fleet (Men)
- 1st: Donato Freens — 58:25.8
- 2nd: Will Keetley — 1:05:08.3
- 3rd: Charlie Wagg — 1:06:33.1
A dominant win from Freens, the only paddler under the hour mark. Â
14’ Race Fleet (Women)
- 1st: Annabel Page — 1:07:53.2
- 2nd: Holly Pye — 1:08:38.0
- 3rd: Alexandra Tyrer-Lomas — 1:08:59.9
One of the closest battles of the day, with under a minute covering the top two. Â
12’6 Race Fleet Winners
- Men: Alistair Hughes — 1:13:29.7
- Women: Clare Elliott — 1:26:47.0 Â
Inflatable Standouts
Inflatable racing continues to grow within the Dart field, with dedicated recognition across both race fleets:
- 1st Inflatable (Men): Robert Crowshaw
- 1st Inflatable (Women): Clare Elliott
Starboard Airline Cup
Men
- 1st: Robert Crowshaw
- 2nd: Andy Clarke
- 3rd: Matthew Knight
Women
- 1st: Sophie-Rose Fanner
- 2nd: Chloe Hurst
- 3rd: Kasia Stunt
Beyond the Race Fleet
Dragon Boards
- Winners: Dragon Drifters — 1:08:27.2 Â
Leisure Fleet
- Top Male: Rob Crookall — 1:12:23.5
- Top Female: Lee-Ann Williams — 1:26:42.8 Â
Multi-Person Board
- Winners: Paddle Up Club — 1:32:14.2 Â
Event Atmosphere
As ever, the Head of the Dart balanced competition with community. From elite race boards to inflatables, dragon boards, and even fancy dress entries — won this year by Paddle Up Club’s Power Rangers — the event continues to reflect the full spectrum of UK SUP.
Fast water, tactical river racing, and a deep field made the 2026 edition another standout.
Even with post-race adjustments, the event reinforced its place as one of the UK’s key SUP fixtures — where performance, participation, and atmosphere all meet on the same stretch of river.