Details of the 2009 Pub Race are now available.
Its time to get those costumes out, tone up those arm muscles and enter the 2009 Whitchurch Pub Race, being held on Sunday May 24th

Starting at the Prince Regent the teams follow a route to all the Town's pubs - the Railway, Bell, Kings Arms, White Hart, Red House, Harvest - then finish at the Sports and Social Club. Grateful thanks are given to all the pubs supporting the event, several of which are providing additional attractions. Without their support the event could not happen.



Entry Forms and Sponsor Forms are now available from the Festival Website or can be picked up from any of the Town's pubs.
http://www.whitchurchfestival.org.uk/

The Festival organisers are hoping for a record turnout and another wonderful collection for the Town's Good Causes.

I missed the majority of the race (was off camping in the Cotswolds for a friend's 40th), but I did catch a bit of the flavour at the end...what a party!

Congrats to all the participants, businesses and the organisers. It was great to see so many supporters out on the streets (and in the pubs!) cheering them all on. Great to see a few pubs putting on food, too (hamburgers at the White Hart hit the spot for me).

More photos to come on the Whitchurch Festival website later.

In the meantime, you can see the photos that I took by clicking HERE.

~Andrew~

A report, pictures and full list of winners is on the Whitchurch Festival website.
http://www.whitchurchfestival.org.uk/

Thank you to everyone who contributed to another great day for the Town with a record amount being raised for local good causes.
The weather couldn't have been better and the crowds were terrific as was the support from the local publicans.

Next events are the Procession, Meadow Events and Festival party on Saturday 20th June.
Mark the date now.



John B
Whitchurch Festival Committee.

Sunday was a fantastic day all round !!

29 teams, approx 120 people taking part, all the venues showing a direct interest in the event and some mind-blowingly awesome weather ..... with ingredients like that it was set to be something special right from the off.

Again, the effort put into the costumes was completely outstanding. I thought last year was impressive but, this year, the standard has been raised yet again and I know it was a tough decision for the 'Best Costume'.

All the top 3 teams ('The Crays', 'The Boat that rocked, wobbled and keeled over' and 'The Whitchurch Stranglebots') hand-made their costumes and I think the decision to give it to the 'Bots was partly based on the reaction shown buy all the younger kids watching along the route .... they thought the 'Bots were awesome !

As well as the costumes I was really impressed with the amount of teams that really got into the spirit of the event and actually performed all round the route ... for example: teams like 'Team Kiss Fist' mimeing 80's metal rock gigs at each stop, 'The Jockson 5' performing their rehearsed dance routine at each stop and 'The Carrot Crunchers' literally stopping at each pub for a whole bunch of singing and 3 or more pints (they even joined a barbeque half way round the course and brought some chicken drumsticks to the finish!).

Another great result is that all the pubs have told me that, compared to a normal Sunday, they had a lot more business than normal and, bearing in mind that all the pubs donated the drinks for the entrants free of charge, it's a great result to actually see that the event really does benefit them.

As a gesture of thanks we're looking to donate the entrance money back to the pubs to help offset the costs of the beer they donated. Some of the pubs have already said they won't accept a donation and will give it straight back to help the charity pot but to have their support for this event is great and I think it's only right that we should offer.

Above all ... a great great GREAT day !
Thanks to everyone (WFC members, Marshalls, Donation Counters, Venues, Landlords/Ladies, Spectators and everyone else) for making it possible !

Cheers, Rob.

Rob Dunlop
Whitchurch Festival Committee Chairman

I don't think we should forget all the hard work you have put into this.
...and not just all the visits around the pubs.

Well done Rob.

The Basingstoke Gazette and Andover Advertiser each have an article and a photo in it this week about the pub race.

~Andrew~