Salisbury A racing to victory in the Year 6 & 7 final. Picture: Mark Warner

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Thrills and spills at annual Salisbury & South Wilts Scout raft races: Pictures

Paul JonesJuly 16, 20260 Comment0

IT was thrills and spills all round during the annual Salisbury & South Wilts District Scout Raft Races.

The event, on July 5, was held on the Nadder, with the permission of Salisbury Canoe Club at a site off Newton Road.

Teams of Scouts competed in timed runs over the 100-metre course, which this year included two slalom gates, in two age groups; School years 6 and 7 and Years 8 and 9.

The fastest two teams in each age group then raced each other in the finals, with a final of a straight race down the river for the two finalists to decide the winner.

“The Scouts spent several weeks designing and building rafts and practicing their paddling and teamwork,” a spokesperson said.

“The rafts had to be built by the Scouts and had to include evidence of rope lashings to hold them together.”

4th Salisbury Harnham Team A on the start line for the timed run. Picture: Mark Warner

A total of 17 teams from Bourne Valley, 23rd Salisbury, 4th Salisbury (Harnham), 1st Amesbury, 10th Salisbury and 3rd Salisbury (Sea Scouts) Scout Troops took to the starting line throughout the day.

The fastest times in the Year 6 & 7 category were: 23rd Salisbury Team A with 1 minute 57 seconds and second were Bourne Valley with 1 minute 55 seconds.

The two teams contested the final in a head to head race with the 23rd taking an early lead and managing to stay afloat, cruised over the finishing line.

In the Year 8 & 9 category the qualifiers for the final were Bourne Valley Team 2 with 1 minute 51 seconds and 4th Salisbury (Harnham) Team A with 1 minute 50 seconds.

1st Amesbury on their timed run. Picture: Mark Warner

In the head to head race it was very tightly contested over the first section of the course but Bourne Valley gained the middle of the river and pulled away over the length of the course, powering over the finish line.

The fastest time of the day down the course was 1 minutes 50 seconds by the 4th Salisbury (Harnham) A Year 8 and 9 team.

Mark Warner, PR and media team lead, said: “The raft races are always keenly contested and it’s great to see the Scouts having a fantastic time on the water and all of the different raft designs from each Scout Troop.

“Congratulations to this year’s worthy winners – Bourne Valley and the 23rd Salisbury.”

At the end of the racing, the event also included a Donkey Derby Fun Race with all competitors on the water.

“Many thanks go to Salisbury Canoe Club for hosting the races,” Mark added.