Midsummer madness returned to The Moat in Elstead on Saturday, June 25^th, for the annual Paper Boat Race, generously sponsored by the Mill at Elstead and Axa Insurance which provides the vital policy to keep the event afloat.

A total of thirteen junior boats, including four designed and built by the Year 6 pupils of St James's School in Elstead,  were entered in the two junior heats. The winner was Sam Tunbridge, age 12, in his streamlined boat named Fantaztic which completed more than seven laps of the moat. The junior runner-up was the black and yellow Bumble Bee, crewed and built by 12 year old Daniel Burden and 13 year old Jamie Mossaz.

This year only one boat was built specially for the adult race and this was the No Name Boat, created by Kevin Burden. He competed against four boats which were re-launched after surviving the junior heats but was beaten by Steve Wright in Fantaztic, with a winner from several previous years, Greg Bennett, in second place in Crazy Frog.

The prize for the best design this year was awarded to the black and creepy Arachnid, designed, built and crewed by Helena Tunbridge and  Stephanie Wright, both 13.

The Elstead Paper Boat Race was first launched in the 1980s by local residents Norman Emblow and Richard Bourne. Norman, who comperes throughout the races and provides technical support to ambitious paper boat builders, said, " This year a record number of boats survived the treacherous waters of the Moat, proving that local boat builders are getting better! However we award the prize for the best design to the most imaginative concept, not the most seaworthy boat! But without the generous support of our sponsors the boat race would be sunk and we are extremely grateful to the Mill and to Axa for helping us to stage the event once again this year."

Proceeds from the races will be donated to the Thursley Road Recreational Trust, which is raising funds for a new village pavilion.

Sue Stephenson

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