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Sunday's Bathtub Race organised by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, Newry and Portadown branch once again proved how much fun you can have with the natural resources on your doorstep with the Newry Canal being the location.
The race was part of Newry's first Festival of Water and the concept has been around many years with annual races taking place during the Newry Canal Festival in the 80's before being resurrected a few years ago.
Entrants of all ages entered crafts that needed to be seen to be believed, with plastic piping working along with lots of duct tape and a large quantity of optimism to produce water faring vehicles with the buoyancy of a stone.
Surprisingly though not one of the contraptions sunk or exhibited any signs of overturning - at least that was until the Newry Soroptimist team of four T Shirt clad males started rocking the boats literally!
First victim was the Haldane Fisher team who were lucky to make it to the finish line with early sabotage attempts being thwarted, although their float made up of plastic drums did end upside down in the water but the cause of course was disputable!
Even the officers of the law weren't immune, with their Bathtub (which finished last) made out of wood and an "exact replica" PSNI Landrover coming under repeated water cannon deluge from the Soroptimists, causing both officers to end up in the water. A public enquiry may get underway but its thought this may proceed as quick as their bathtub did! The Police though should share some of the blame as the secret really is in the name "LAND" Rover not CANAL Rover! They really should have known to keep it on dry land!!!
As with all races someone had to win and after a race which saw them keep their heads down and out of trouble while others were caught up in a gridlock scenario, the Courtney's Bathtub made up of four plastic pipes and a bath and manoeuvred by Shane Courtney and Gary O'Hare just took the glory in the Senior Race.
Junior Winner was Reece Finnegan whose pedal propelled bathtub complete with very impressive mudguards made the journey down the Canal look almost effortless and Cruise Ship like.
Best Design and best dressed award went to the aforementioned Newry Soroptimist team of four, thus ended a wonderful afternoons fun messing about on the river, ok canal! Well done the IWAI and supporters Surefreight, Courtneys and the McKeown family, MJM Marine and Abbey Event Management.
Roll on next year maybe Newry.ie will give you all a run for your money!
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