Chester Raft Race

The Chester Raft Race is an annual charity event taking place every July on the River Dee in Chester, organised by the Rotary Club of Chester.

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).

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.

Winners

Chester Raft Race Winners
Year Raft Team
2014 Cheshire Waste and Skip Hire
2013 Stanton Pyroplast
2012 Wet Dream Sandbach Cave & Mountain Rescue
2011 Wet Dream 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

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