Chester Raft Race

The Chester Raft Race is an annual charity event taking place every July on the River Dee in Chester, organised by Chester Round Table

Chester Raft Race 2008

The rafts race against the clock over a quarter mile (400 m) course, starting by the rowing club, and passing under pedestrian suspension bridge. Until 2013 it continued down the weir and finished on the south bank above the road bridge. Although the race is over at this point, the remnants of the rafts and crew then had to retrace their route back up the weir and return to the site assembly/parking area (The Meadows).

No races were held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

2014 event

The 2014 event was held on 6 July and featured a display of flyboarding by Jay St John. Forty rafts took part, and the winner with the fastest time of 9m 20s was Cheshire Waste and Skip Hire with In The Navy. Winner of the theme prize was Marshall Air Services with a complete floating jet-fighter tribute to Top Gun. The best pub entry was by Old Harkers Arms with a Yellow Submarine tribute to the Beatles. Best ladies raft was I Am Sailing, entered by The Druids Inn. The best school entry was Queens Lower School with The Queen of Hearts.

The main sponsor of the event was Survitec Group, a global specialist in marine safety equipment. In 2014 a new finish line was introduced at a point above the weir; this eliminated a risky descent of the weir. The Rotary Club of Chester donated proceeds from the race to Cheshire Young Carers and other local causes.

Covid Postponements

The event was postponed in 2020 & 2021 [1] due to the restriction imposed on large gatherings during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Plans were put in place for the 2022 Chester Raft Race at this time the organisation of the event would transfer to Chester Grosvenor 76 Round Table.[2]

Chester Raft Race 2022

After 2 years of a Covid enforced hiatus the 2022 Event was announced for Sunday July 3, 2022[3] with the event receiving a new rebranded logo. The theme for the event was also confirmed as "100 Years of British Television" and the event Charity was announced with profits from the event going to the Countess of Chester Hospital - Blue Skies Balcony Appeal.

A brand new Event sponsor was announced as Salt Town Contractors[4]

As of the 23rd of May 20 Rafts were signed up for the event[5] with many returning entrants from previous years, as well as some new entries for Chester Raft Race 2022.

Winners
Chester Raft Race Winners
Year Raft Team
2020 and 2021 Races cancelled due to COVID-19
2019 Crocky Wok Crocky Trail
2018 Crocky Wok Crocky Trail
2017 Crocky Wok Crocky Trail
2016 Traitor Chester Auto Services
2015 No Name Known Survitec Group
2014 In the Navy Cheshire Waste and Skip Hire
2013 Gloriana Stanton Pyroplast
2012 Contraflow Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2011 Contraflow Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2010 Dee Day Commandos The Greyhound, Farndon
2009 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2008 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2007 Cancelled - Floods
2006 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2005 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2004 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2003 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2002 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2001 Cancelled - Foot & Mouth
2000 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
1999 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
1998 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
1997 Shy Talk Shell UK, Stanlow
1996 Shy Talk Shell UK, Stanlow
1995 Shy Talk Shell UK, Stanlow
1994 Panache Jiffy Packaging
1993 Panache Jiffy Packaging
1992 Panache Jiffy Packaging
1991 Panache Jiffy Packaging
1990 Stig Shell UK Oil

References
  1. "Raft Race History". Chester Raft Race. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  2. "Raft Race History". Chester Raft Race. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  3. Twitter https://twitter.com/chesterraftrace/status/1500054734392209411. Retrieved 18 June 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Chester Raft Race - We are delighted to announce that Salt Town Contractors Ltd will be our Main Sponsors for this years event... https://www.salttowncontractors.com/about-us/". Facebook. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  5. 🚣 Raft Race Update 🚣 ..., retrieved 18 June 2022

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