Raft racers helped to launch this year’s Stone Festival week with one of the largest entries in recent years.
Twenty-one rafts took to the River Trent at the Darlaston Inn and all of them – including over 70 riders – made it through to the finishing line at Westbridge Park.
The winner was Dark Destroyer, which managed to complete the course in 57 minutes, with previous winners The Abyss second in 61 minutes and Winghouse Spirit third in 65 minutes.
The prize for best raft went to Target Windows & Conservatories – this year’s main festival sponsor – for their incredible raft inspired by rock band KISS, complete with electric guitar paddles!
Festival Chairman John Sayer thanked the Darlaston Inn for their enduring support for the race, the Stafford & Stone Canoe Club for providing safety boats and St John’s Ambulance for being there in case of mishaps (of which there were none, thankfully!).
Also in Westbridge Park the Dog Show attracted a record entry – the Best in Show being judged to be Jack, a whippet from Whitgreave, with the reserve being Boogie, a poodle from Etching Hill.
All in all there were 15 classes with something for every dog in town if they had come along. Sponsored by Sean’s Pet Emporium and CobbyDog this event has become one of the must see events in the local calendar.
Later in the evening the Festival Quiz at Granvilles attracted a record entry, with 16 teams taking part in a fun but demanding quiz. The winners – a two-man team – were Aguilera who won six bottles of wine.
There’s lots more information – and a full list of results – at Stone Festival’s official website, where you’ll also find an events programme for the week.
Huge thanks to Target Windows & Conservatories for the pictures – you can see lots more of them here.
