W.L. West & Sons Ltd.
Rother Raft Race 2007

 Rafts of all shapes and sizes entered the event, here 'Pimp my Ride' consisted of Tara Pearse, Sam Godding, Laura Bidmead and James Walker. 

'OZ' from the famous film was crewed by Jill Parrot, Sharon Newman, Marian Cozens and Helen Parrot.

The event was organised as ever by Ron Dudman and Robin Shapland. Here Robin (always behind the mic at these events) is joined by St Dicks Chicks.

'Sheilas Wheels' was driven by Mel Taylor, Natasha Mills, Vanessa Portman and Emma Sirrett. We're not sure if they qualified for a 'No Claims' policy by the end of the race?

Paul Williams the Breakfast Show anchor for SPIRIT FM helped with the Fancy Dress judging and started the race. SPIRIT FM have supported the race for the past three years, and hopefully will continue to do so. Their publicity is priceless for this great charity event.

'Lords of the Rings' was a superb entry crerwed by Thomas Byers, M Parsell, Bridget Newbury and Paul Boland. They also won the Fancy Dress prize.

Starting the race and recording all of the times were Paul Williams (Spirit FM) Vicky Jennings and Robin Shapland

'Hard GR-Rafters' were Gavin Wood, Jason Walsh, Robert Matthews and Andy Strong.

'Greased Lightning' made a great effort with their raft and won Best Constructed Raft. They were Debbie Peacock, Malisa-Jo Wood, Amber Peacock and Megan Fuller.

What ever floats your boat!!!!

Rafts included the slick and fast together with the more basic - but functional.

'Batman' flew down the river with Roger Morgan-Grenville, Tom Morgan-Grenville, Chris Proud and Will Proud.

'HMS Unsinkable' was crewed by Craig Thorpe, Rebecca Carter, Jason Dunmore and Kelly Steele. This was one of the rafts crewed by one of the sponsors employees, unsinkable it may not have been, but had there been a prize for the heaviest raft, this would have won hands down!!!!

'The Jolly Rother' crewed by Dan Moon and Chris West. Another raft crewed by one of the sponsors team members. This was a veteran raft, having completed the course over a period of more than 10 years being used again and again..

'St Dicks Chicks' were raising money for St Richards Hospital Cancer Day Unit appeal. What an effort! They raised over £3500 for this event. Great effort girls. They are Rosie Drayson, Judy Hawkins, Sarah Ferrier and Annie Simson

'Barely Bow' is another regular, crewed by Graham Bowbrick, Tina Bowbrick, Keith Ely and Kristian Bowbrick. This team is always at the front when it comes to winning taking the 4 man mixed 1st prize again in 1.26.10. But they dont stop there, they also raised over £800 for charity as well!

Some wanted pure luxury on the way down. 'Towbar' crewed by Phill Marjason and Caroline Cotton, had full electrics including a radio, and it all still worked at the end!

Others wanted a different, if morbid type of comfort. 'Out for the Count' was sailed by Robin Jennings, Sally Woods, Anne Woods and Oliver Neil

And just how do you get out of the river?

Well you ask Jesso (Paul Kingswell) and he will help you.

Andy Carter will then lift your craft for you.

Ron Dudman (one of the organisers) will ensure that no-one is hurt.

The crew of 'The Woodchurch Flyer', now converted into a 4 person craft, won what is the smallest cup for stealing the most picnics on the way down!! Chris Dudman and Tim Hudson have been doing this race for years and have made a point of ensuring food safety at the event by sampling as many picnics as possible on the course.

It had been brought to the organisers attention that Chris Dudman had been moonlighting as a Morris Dancer in his spare time. This had been pooh poohed until the following evidence came to light!!

Next years event will be held on

Sunday 24 August 2008

2007 Race Results

RIVER ROTHER RAFT RACE 2007

A 2 MAN YOUTH TEAM
1 C. U. NEXT TUESDAY 1.58.48
Sam Luxton George Groves
2 DRUNKEN MONKEY 2.17.40
Luke Cameron Harry Dimond
3 KAWASINKI 2.55.20
Henry Harris Jack Morgan

B 4 MAN YOUTH TEAM
EXOCET – THE NEXT GENERATION 2.55.10
Tori Beasley Leah Deeney Sam Beasley Ben Banbury

C 2 LADIES MIXED
1 TOWBAR 1.40.13
Phill Marjason Caroline Cotton
2 BRIAN 1.58.20
R. Luck Emily Luck
3 In The Pink 2.03.40
M MacKay Katrina Edwards

D 4 LADIES
1 OZ 1.42.04
Jill Parrott Sharon Newman Marian Cozens Helen Parrott
2 ST. DICKS CHICKS St. Richards Cancer Day Unit Appeal Committee Highest sponsored raft, Wynn Collins Memorial trophy 1.57.57
Rosie Drayson Judy Hawkins Sarah Farrier Annie Simson
3 BLACK PEARL The Pirates of Ken’s Pants 2.03.48
Lisa Davies Kathy Boyden Lisa Wheeler Emma Dale

E DAD AND THE FAMILY
1 BLACK MAGIC 2.06.25
Stuart Green Charlie Green
2 BATMAN Dexam 2.13.56
Roger Morgan-Grenville Chris Proud Will Proud Tom Morgan-Grenville

F 2 MAN TEAM
1 ICKLE KIPPER 1.15.34
Alex Stickley Adrian Stickley
2 LANCASTER BOMBER 1.28.25
Ian Cannings John Rix
3 BETTER LATE THAN NEVER 1.35.28
Ashley Brunning G Edmonds

G 4 MAN MIXED
1 BARELY BOW 1.26.10
Graham Bowbrick Tina Bowbrick Keith Ely Kristian Bowbrick
2 OUT FOR THE COUNT 1.39.59
Robin Jennings Sally Woods Anne Woods Oliver Neil
3 PIECES OF 4 2.01.55
Sean Scutt Tina Scutt David Wateridge Karen Scutt

4 MAN TEAM TEAM
1 THE PLONKERS 1.29.11
Rob Bowbrick Jamie Bowbrick Rob Lawrence Andy Meadows
2 CHUTNEY CHARIOT Guildford East Scout Fellowship 1.32.28
Chris Cozens Stuart Ward Colin Parrott Michael Hancock
3 MUJIS REVENGE Jacaranda 1.57.12
Andrew Mason Paul Wilkinson Owen Bampton Dan Jenkins

I 4 MAN PUB TEAM
1 THE STAG 1.51.31
Peter Poole Dona Waterman Malcolm Douglas Jo Rendall

PASSION WAGON – THE GREYHOUND Retired sunk at the Fish Ladder
Dan Penfold Jason Till Darren Clarke Jamie Duskty

SUPER RAFT
60 HOOKS WET DREAM Holdaway International 1.10.52 Fastest time of the day
Steve Holdaway

GREASE LIGHTENING Best constructed raft
Debbie Peacock Malisa-Jo Wood Amber Peacock Megan Fuller

Fancy Dress
1 LORDS OF THE RINGS
Thomas Byers M. Parsell Bridget Newbury Paul Boland 

W.L. WEST & SONS LTD
Selham, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0PJ
United Kingdom

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Fax: 01798 861633   
E-mail: sales@wlwest.co.uk

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