Richard Kent posted the fastest time in the 2014 Hamble Wild Water Race which was paddled in extreme conditions.

The 52-year-old finished the course in 20 minutes.

First female to finish was Junior GB team paddler Lucy Brown, 15, closely followed by elder sister Clare, 17.

The Open race was won by Hamble Sea Scouts pair Joe Dodds, 15, and William Whitlock, 13.

With the knowledge of gale force eight winds and rain expected, paddlers were warned of the likely conditions and hazards.

However, nothing could prepare them for the continuous two miles of choppy water with waves up to two feet high from all angles, plus a constant 25 mile per hour headwind gusting in variable directions to 30 mph plus.

Where the river narrowed on the course, or was more exposed, the waves were bigger and the wind more extreme.

Grand Canyon paddler, 68-year-old Danny Dalrymple, who has faced 15 foot waves in his career, said: “At times I was paddling forwards BUT going backwards!”

Despite the conditions, 20 out of 21 paddlers finished, with ages ranging from 10 to 76-year-old Richard Davis who still paddles 60-100 miles a week.

The only retiree was Philip Smith, 10, who after an hour of fighting the elements was finally persuaded to get a tow in by one of the safety boats.

Amelia Combes, 12, decided she was having so much fun she raced past the finish and was heading off to cross the Channel to France!

She was eventually chased down and dragged back to the finish buzzing with joy.

One of the competitors, Susan Templeton, enthused: “This really was racing on the edge for the conditions but exactly what competent and suitably-equipped wild water racers crave.

“The buzz at the finish, the RAF Yacht Club, who have supported the race over the past four years, was great, from old and young alike, having taken on all that could be thrown at them and survived.

“The winners’ trophies and race certificate say “Hamble River Survivor” – how true this year.

“The race has left all of us with a great tale to tell.”