THERE was a full grid of nearly 30 teams for this year’s annual Watchet Wheelbarrow Race which took place over the Bank holiday weekend.

Organised by Watchet Carnival Committee, the race attracted 17 entries in the men’s section, seven in the women’s category, and a further five mixed pairs.

The wacky take on an F1 race saw the fancy dress teams line up on the starting grid on the Esplanade and complete a circuit with frequent pit stops at local public houses before finishing back at the harbourside.

Hundreds of spectators lined the route to cheer on the teams with their customised wheelbarrows despite the showery rainfall which swept across the district and saw teams switch from ‘slicks’ to ‘intermediates’ and some opting for ‘full wets’.

Pit stops included the Esplanade Club, the Bell Inn, the London Inn, the Star Inn, Watchet Royal British Legion Club, Pebbles Tavern sponsoring The Anchor stop, and the West Somerset Hotel.

As well as prizes for the fastest teams, each entry had a vote to decide on the winner of the fancy dress category.

The race was part of a programme of events leading up to the town’s annual carnival weekend at the end of July.

RESULTS

Men’s Teams – 1 Andy Toogood & Tom Toogood ‘Plump Plumbers’ 6 mins 19s, 2 Phil Cracknell & Gavin Bridle ‘Stoates Millers’ 7 mins 16s, 3 Tom Birch & Matthew Perry ‘Knot Sober’ 7 mins 32s.

Ladies Teams – 1 Charlotte Statham & Jo Sawatzki ‘Big Fish, Little Fish’ 9 mins 32s, 2 Andrea Puttick & Steph Worley ‘Bay-Watchet’ 12 mins 1s, 3 Tiegan Langdon & Miami Wyllie ‘Not My First Rodeo’ 3 mins 32s.

Mixed Teams – 1 Lynsey Small & Ricky Small ‘Shake And Bake’ 7 mins 15s, 2 Lewis Febery & Georgie Febery ‘Tailenders’ 8 mins 15s, 3 Matt Hill & Ali Herbert ‘Ali’s Wild Ride’ 10 mins 17s.

Fancy Dress award/custom barrow – 1 Lee Frankin & Lucy Franklin ‘There’s No Place Like Home’, 2 Graeme Abbott-Garner & Philip Abbott-Garner ‘Morning Glory’, 3 Chris Hudson & Luke Johnson ‘The Red Barrows’.