Speedy Sealine crews take race glory
9:44am Tuesday 13th May 2008
LUXURY boat builders Sealine used their expertise to clinch a hat-trick in this year's fun raft race from Arley to Stourport, which attracted a bumper entry.
Forty rafts of all shapes registered for the popular nine-mile course along the River Severn and all but one, which sank at the start, eventually made it across the finishing line on Sunday.
Sealine's rafts proved the fastest, with two taking joint first place with a time of 1 hr 46mins and the Kidderminster company's other raft taking third place, with a time of 2 hrs, 8mins.
A social group called the Western Express won first place in the pub/club/social category with a time of 1 hr, 51 mins and Andy's Barbers, from Stourport, took the best dressed raft award with their theme based on the 118 118 advert.
Plenty of people lined the riverbank to watch the spectacle, organised by Kidderminster and District Lions Club and fund-raising chairman, Ron Cross, said everyone was well behaved and the event went without a hitch.
"It was a real scorcher. We had great big tubs of after sun cream but I think there will be some sore shoulders, " said Mr Cross.
Rafters came from Sutton Coldfield, Great Barr, Birmingham, Dudley and Stourbridge, to join in the fun and Mr Cross said there were some great looking vessels.
The number of entries was up on last year's figure of 34 and eager entrants have already started to book their places for next year.
Mr Cross said about half the rafters were raising sponsorship money for this year's Lions' charity, County Air Ambulance, but he did not have a total yet. Other entrants raised money for a variety of other charities.
Full results of the raft race can be seen at www.arleystourportraftrace.co.uk