Race history
In 1976 a small group of members from the Wellesbourne & District Lions Club met with members of the local Ambulance and Fire services to discuss how to raise monies for local worthwhile charitable causes.
The result was a fun challenge between the two services to race homemade rafts 7½ miles down the river Avon to finish at Stratford upon Avon. Others in local pubs, clubs and businesses heard of the race and joined in raising £1,800.
The organisation behind that first race was very basic, the PA system was two handheld loudhailers and a wristwatch was used to time them down the course! The race has now grown to attract teams from all over the UK raising so far well over £500,000 for local, regional and national charitable causes.
The organisation on the race day has grown to meet the current needs to operate a safe fun event. The two handheld loudhailers have been replaced with a major Public Address system providing a full race commentary throughout the day. A team of over 60 volunteers man a safety, first aid and radio communications network covering the length of the race. In addition we now have a number of races within the main race with each raft electronically timed over the course and the results produced in real time on our computer controlled race system.
The event now attracts novelty rafts themed on The Magic Roundabout, Finding Nemo and Aladdin etc. with the teams dressed in costume battling to win their place as fastest in their race section. We also see unusual dress codes - rambos, babies, wild west, men with frocks on etc. etc.
We have come a long way from that first race but the objective set by the original Wellesbourne Lions is still the same - to have fun and raise funds for worthwhile charities. This year we are asking the teams to raise sponsorship for the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust and local Lions charities. and as usual 100% of the monies raised will be distributed to the charities we support, so please support the teams, pledge some money, and come to the finish at Stratford upon Avon recreation ground on Sunday afternoon 17th June and watch the fun!
35 races and still going!
Of course it has not always been that easy. There have been 2 years when the event has had to be cancelled due to a) foot and mouth disease, and b) the river being swollen to dangerously high water levels.
We do not take out expensive insurance against such unlikely occurrences, so we ask for mobile phone numbers to be submitted with each entry from in case we need to make urgent contact with the raft skipper.