This time rag regatta has perfect weather for punting

MORE than 100 people competed in Wargrave Boat Club’s postponed rag regatta on Sunday.

There were 79 races across the day, including some new events — a novice “dash” punting category with a simple beginners’ course for both children and adults and a stand-up paddleboarding event, also for both children and adults.

Club chairman Johnny Wyld said: “It was a really good day. We had to postpone it in July due to the spectacularly bad weather but we ended up with more competitors and more races, which was fantastic.

“The weather was perfect — there was some rain but that’s all part of it. We introduced the new events to try to increase the number of people taking up racing punting as it’s a sport in the doldrums at the moment and we’re a strong centre for racing punting.

“The novice events were to get people involved and went well.

“We also had the stand-up paddleboarding event which is not traditional boating but is something people are doing more and more on the river so it’s a way to encourage people to do it responsibly.”

For the first time, in addition to winners’ cups, chocolate medals were given out in categories including busiest runner-up, most helpful child and most creative interpretation of the course.

Mr Wyld said: “It was a bit of lightheartedness and to make sure that any kids who felt left out had an excuse to be given a small token at the end.”

Participants enjoyed barbecue food and refreshments.

Next year the club will mark its 75th anniversary and will hold a themed celebration around the regatta.

The results were as follows:

Side by side dinghy race (aged nine and under): 1 Liam Kelly, Dylan Beard and Harry Buntine (cox); 2 Elliot Stubbs, Jack Scofield and Sophie Simmonds (cox).

Side by side dinghy race (aged 10 to 11): 1 Barnaby Roberts, Rory Harris and Poppy Fletcher (cox);
2 Freya Hall, Poppy Simmonds and Annie Young (cox).

Singles dinghy race (aged nine to 11); 1 Barney Beard, 2 Poppy Simmonds.

Singles dinghy race (aged 12 to 15): 1 Fred Simmonds, 2 Phoebe Hall.

Traditional skiff race (aged 12 to 17): 1 Fred Simmonds, Phoebe Hall and Jo Hall (cox); 2 Isabella Fletcher, Sophie Simmonds and Claire Fletcher (cox).

Traditional skiff race (aged 18 and over): 1 Emily Harris, Ed Brand and Toby Brand (cox);
2 Lucy Roberts, Andrew Denham and Poppy Fletcher (cox).

Doubles Canadian canoe — adult and child (aged nine and under): 1 Matt Buntine and Emilia Buntine; 2 Johnny Wyld and Arthur Wyld.

Scratch junior dongola race (aged under 18): 1 Team Pug: Richard Hammersley (steerer), Austin Liddell, Barney Beard, Freya Hall, Megan Worthington and Will Roberts; 2 Team Dachshund: Gordon Merritt (steerer), Atticus Gorman, Ben van den Berghen, Isla Kelly, Libby Schutz and Millie Turnbull.

Scratch dongola race (aged 18 and over): 1 Team Panther: Stuart Stubbs (steerer), Caroline Simmonds, Colin Levington,
Jo Hall, John Argent and Nick Roberts; 2 Team Cheetah: Tim Simmonds (steerer), Andrew Denham, Becky Strode, Catherine Brand, Claire Fletcher and Liz Wyld.

The Bull Enduro (aged 18 and over): 1 Jacob Worthington and Caroline Simmonds; 2 Ed Brand and Rachel Argent.

Anne Reid Enduro (aged 10 to 17): 1 Freddie Simmonds and Phoebe Hall; 2 Ollie Scofield and Poppy Simmonds.

Classified and drawn doubles punting: 1 Matthew Gordon and Verity Argent; 2 Johnny Wyld and Amy Goodall-Smith.

Doubles punting in Canadian canoes (aged 11 and over): 1 Paul Worthington and Megan Worthington; 2 Becky Worthington and Jacob Worthington.

Novice singles punting dash (aged 18 and over): 1 Ed Brand;
2 Maggie Hodgkins.

Junior novice singles punting dash (aged under 18): 1 Olly Scofield; 2 Rufus Neville.

Doubles sit-on kayak race — adult and child (aged nine and under): 1 Tim Scofield and Jack Scofield; 2 Kier Liddell and Austin Liddell.

Doubles junior sit-on kayak race (aged 10 to 15): 1 Harry Buntine and Libby Schutz; 2 Jacob Smith and Poppy Fletcher.

Stand up paddleboarding race (aged 18 and over): 1 Bjorn Odenhammar; 2 Emily Harris.

Junior stand up paddleboarding race (aged 11 to 17): 1 Gustav Odenhammar; 2 Will Roberts.