Chester Rotary Raft Race takes place on the River Dee

Jul 8 2010 Chester Chronicle

Chester Rotary Raft Race takes place on the River Dee

FROM the astronautical to the sheer fantastical, rafts of all shapes and sizes converged on the River Dee on Sunday to participate in the Chester Rotary Raft Race.

This was the 35th annual charity race organised by the Rotary Club, and it attracted hoards of fun-seeking onlookers wishing to revel at the sight of the seafarers’ not-so-plain-sailing.

While the wacky race saw some tricks even Dick Dastardly would have been proud of, more than £7,000 was raised for the charity Help For Heroes, a concern set up to bring aid to wounded servicemen and women.

Organiser Brian Price said: “I would like to thank the generous support of our competitors, spectators and sponsors – Bell Developments, City Furniture, Urenco, Cheshire Waste and Skip Hire, Signworld and Liberty Properties and commend the sum of money raised.”

The theme of the race was great historical events through the ages – and contestants were given prizes for their costumed finery.

At the finish, it was the Dee Day Commandos from The Greyhound Inn, Farndon, skippered by Tony McDonald, who finished in poll position.