This is one of the most exciting events we are lucky enough to have in Monmouth every year. This year so far 62 rafts have been entered and hopefully there will be 80 entries by the day of the event. This will mean approximately 700 rafters taking part this year, which is brilliant! There have even been entries from further afield, with rafters travelling from Plymouth, Nottingham, Dartford, Basingstoke, Cleckheaton, Worcester and Bristol. You’ve still got time to enter a raft! Go online to http://www.monmouthraftrace.com and follow the steps from there.
Mayor Jeanna Hall will start the raft race at 12 noon on the 1st September, so if you’re not taking part in the race come along to wave them off the starting point! Car parking at the start is in the field on the river bank, this is approached off the Dixton roundabout. There will be signs to follow! Car park tickets can be brought on the day, for £5 per car, and are valid for both start and finish car parks.
All members of the public are invited to the start at Monmouth Rowing Club to see the rafts from 11am and the race start at 12noon. And also to visit the Family Festival at the finish which starts at 1pm and finishes at 5pm. Sunshine Radio will be present at the start and be broadcasting live during the morning and covering the start. Corporate hospitality will sites are available at the Family Festival at Whitebrook for the finish with live music from ‘Twysted River’, hog roast, burgers, ice cream, real ale bar and children’s fairground rides.
An electronic timing system is being developed, which will hopefully have live updates on the internet during the raft race. This will be accessible by members of the public via a 3G phone! This could possibly even include photos of the rafts as they progress down the river.
Monmouth Rotary Raft Race is very grateful for sponsorship from Mandarin Stone and Kymin and for IT technical help from Module IT. 75% of money raised by the event will go to St David’s Hospice Care and 25% to other charities supported by Monmouth Rotary Club. In 2012 the Raft Race raised just under £20,000 for charity, let’s try and show them as much support as we can and raise even more money for great causes! This is one of their big events and they are extremely grateful for the help of many individuals around the town. If anybody else would like to help on the day, please contact Monmouth.rotary.club@talktalk.net.
