A novice paddler who took up the sport less than two years ago has joined forces with a seasoned expert to take part in a gruelling 125-mile river race for charity. Rebecca Bird, 53, will be making her debut in this year’s Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race alongside Alex Burt, 46, a former Team GB slalom canoeist and serving Army Lieutenant Colonel who has completed the race four times before. The pair, who both live in Newbury and are members of the town’s canoe club, will be hitting the water in a pairs kayak on March 30 and paddling non-stop, aiming to finish within 21 hours. They have so f…