The Avon Descent is the richest white water race in the world attracting a strong contingent of international competitors led by the South African paddlers and is run concurrently for competitors in the paddle and powercraft categories.

The event is staged over two days, the first being the 57 kilometres from Northam to Cobblers Pool and day two, a 77 kilometre journey from Cobblers Pool to the finish line at Bayswater, totalling 134 kilometres.

With water levels the lowest since the event was first held in 1973 and the promised frontal systems falling off the weather map quickly, the term white water was a loose description of what faced competitors at the start line.

With barely a trickle of water tumbling over the Northam Weir the first portage stage (where paddlers have to carry/push/drag their craft down the river) was witnessed only one kilometre into the race and set the tone for the long two days ahead.

It was joked among the competitors that this year's event was going to be a running race and according to Bartram, the only time he felt like he was passing anyone on the first day was when he was running and dragging his ski down the river.

This style of racing suited the paddlers on skis (where the competitor is sitting on the craft) rather than the kayakers, (where the competitor sits inside the craft) as the skis are a easier to enter and exit when the river becomes too shallow to paddle.

The majority of the field use plastic skis as they are virtually indestructible in these conditions when striking submerged rocks is a common occurrence.

The more experienced paddlers at the pointy end of the field, such as winning South African paddler Hank McGregor, use carbon fibre skis as they are lighter and faster through the water, however they are a lot more fragile and these competitors often carry the skis above their head as they portage around obstacles in the river.

The attrition rate was high in this year's Avon Descent with only 253 of the 553 competitors making it to the finish line in Bayswater, with craft damage and cut-off times cutting a swathe through the field.

This included the powerboat entrants where only three made it to the finish, compared to the usual 40-50 from previous years.

Bartram crossed the finish line late on Sunday afternoon in a total time of 16 hours and 36 minutes, placing him 126th overall in his first attempt at the race.