SALISBURY Scouts got suitably soaked at this year’s Salisbury & South Wilts Scout Raft Race.

The scouts took to the water of the River Nadder on Sunday, July 7 thanks to permission from the Salisbury Canoe Club.

They competed in timed runs over the 150-metre course in two age groups: those in Year 6 and 7 against those in Year 8 and 9.

The fastest two teams in each age group then raced each other in the finals.

The Scouts spent several weeks designing and building rafts themselves and practising their paddling and teamwork.

Rafts had to include evidence of rope lashings to hold them together.

Teams from Bourne Valley, 23rd Salisbury, 4th Salisbury (Harnham), 1st Alderbury, 1st Amesbury, and Bulford Scout Troops contested the races.

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The fastest times in the Year 6 and 7 category were 23rd Salisbury Team D with 1 minute 54 seconds and second, Bourne Valley with 1 minute 57 seconds.

Bourne Valley on their way to winning the Year 8 & 9 Race Picture: Mark Warner

The two teams contested the final in a head-to-head race, with the 23rd taking an early lead, but they were being chased down by Bourne Valley when disaster struck and the 23rd sank.

Bourne Valley then cruised to the title.

In the Year 8 and 9 category, the qualifiers for the final were Bourne Valley with 1 minute 47 seconds and 4th Salisbury (Harnham) with 1 minute 56 seconds.

The head-to-head race 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.

In the Year 6 & 7 final 23rd Salisbury took an early lead but were chased down by Bourne Valley and eventually sank Picture: Mark

The fastest time down the course was 1 minute 47 seconds by the Bourne Valley Year 8 and 9 team.

Mark Warner, PR and media team, lead said: “The raft races are one of the most highly anticipated events in the Scout calendar and are always keenly contested.

“The Scouts build the rafts themselves and are keen to practice before the event. Congratulations to this year’s worthy winners Bourne Valley.”

He added that thanks go to Salisbury Canoe Club for hosting the races.