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Another wacky raft race promised for Boxing Day

Matt WeigoldDerby
News imageSam Hepburn A homemade raft sailing on a river with four people on it. The raft is made from blue drums, wooden panels, a black sofa and red painted wood carved in the shape of a sleigh. The words 'Santas's naughty elves' is painted on the back of the raft. The four people are knelt on the raft dressed in Santa outfits. The waves are crashing and there are large stones and bushes on the bank.Sam Hepburn
A team of naughty elves came third in last year's Matlock Raft Event

Wacky homemade rafts will drift down the River Derwent during the Matlock Raft Event which is set to be held on Boxing Day.

The event, which is due to start at 11:00 GMT on Friday and raises funds for the RNLI, first took place in 1961 has included Elvis Presley, the Blues Brothers and Madness impersonators in previous years.

Organiser Terry Radford says the winners are decided not by who finishes first, but by who entertains the thousands of spectators the most.

"There is nothing like it. It's been going for over sixty years now and we want to keep that tradition going. It's unique," he added.

News imageSam Hepburn A raft and five canoes are floating on a river. Three men are stood on the raft, one is laying down on it and another is sat holding an oar. People in waterproof jackets and helmets are using oars to paddle in the canoes. There is a steep leafy bank behind them.Sam Hepburn
The event has raised a total of over £154,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

"It does attract large crowds, it's great for local businesses, everyone opens and we continue the festive spirit."

Mr Radford said the weir is the most difficult part of the course, with many rafts not surviving the 30ft decline.

The event is hosted by the Derbyshire Association of Sub Aqua Clubs and has raised over £154,000 over the years for the lifeboat charity.

News imageSam Hepburn A man in a Santa hat, glittery pink wig, life jacket and waterproofs is spraying a watergun at a man with long hair and beard in the foreground. Another man with a blue hat, blue glittery wig, life jacket and waterproofs is laughing. Another man wearing a green wig is using a long wooden oar to paddle. A leafy riverbank can be seen in the background.Sam Hepburn
Spectators are discouraged from throwing items like eggs, flour, tins of beans and plastic bags at the rafts

Derbyshire 4x4 Responders will manage the car park this year after many of their volunteers withdrew in response to verbal abuse they received from a small group of young spectators.

Other volunteers have been enlisted along the race course to bolster this year's event safety team.

"It's a family event, you don't want people effing and jeffing, it just spoils it for everyone," Mr Radford said.

Eggs, flour, tins of beans and plastic bags have been thrown at the rafts by spectators in previous years, but Mr Radford urged people who attend this year's event not throw items, as they pose a danger to wildlife in the water.

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