Robin Shapland 13 West Side Tillington Petworth West Sussex GU28 9PL November 2008     The Rother Raft Race

The Rother Raft Race has been running for 27 years, with local charities benefitting from a considerable amount of money. This year was a spectacular result, raising over £13,000.00. But the event does not happen without a considerable amount of work. Ron Dudman has decided that he should hang up his oars and paddle through life a little more gently, and with two new hips who can blame him?
 
We seem to have become a more litigious society. The authorities seem to want someone to blame when things go wrong, and never seem to allow the public to take responsibility for their own safety. This year we were asked to provide detailed risk assessments for the event, this almost went as far as being requested to fence the whole course to prevent spectators falling into the river!!! Next year we are being told that life preservers with the current safety specification must be worn. We do not believe that we will have entrants that will want to fund this equipment. As organisers, for us to find funding, purchase and continue to maintain life preservers would create additional work, maintenance and storage problems. There would then be additional liability problems with lending/hiring these safety devices. Chichester District Council and Sussex Police as part of their role in public safety are requiring these changes and no doubt, in the future there will be more changes required. We have met with our sponsors and all options have been discussed at length. Through the 27 years of the event, we have all had great fun, and I know that our sponsors have enjoyed supporting the event. We, as organisers, have always had safety in the forefront of our minds, as our safety record over the last 27 years has shown. They are asking us, as organisers, to be accountable for the safety of craft and persons involved with the event. We feel that the nature of raft racing is such that entrants should be given the freedom and flexibility to design and construct their rafts, whilst considering their own safety.
 
We do not feel it is correct to be dictated to, and when Health and Safety place so many constraints on the event, and the red tape means that we no longer enjoy the organisational aspect, then, surely, what is the point? It is surely time to call it a day?
 
Ron and I have therefore taken the sad decision, in consultation with our sponsors, to end the event. We are convinced with all of the legislation and requirements that would be placed on us for 2009, our entries would be down again. By finishing now we will be going out on a spectacular year. 2008 was, therefore, the last Rother Raft Race. We would like to thank all of the Rafters through the years, the endless stream of helpers through the years who number too many to list and all of the sponsors over the 27 years. Acorn Press have been on board for the whole life of the event, W.L.West & Sons Ltd have been our sponsor for the past 12 years. Without all of your hard work, and fun attitude there would be a few poorer charities locally.
 
There maybe someone amongst you who wishes to continue the event, Ron and I will pass on any information and contacts that would allow you to run the event, but we will not be part of the organisational team. Our sponsors have also asked us to say that if the event is continued by someone other than us, sponsorship is not guaranteed and would have to be sought on its merits.
 
We would like to wish you all the very best for the future – and keep supporting charity events where you can – just don’t have an accident!!!