?BRILLIANT!? was the verdict after this year?s raftrace down the River Tamar, organised by the Tavistock and District branch of Mencap.
The race has obviously caught the imagination of West Devon residents, as 27 colourful, wonderful and weird rafts piloted by their soggy teams paddled their way from Morwellham to Calstock.
From a pack of furiously paddling vikings to Roborough Young Farmers? Club recreation of Jack and the Giant, a day of fun was had by all.
Race organiser Rex Harpham said: ?It went absolutely brilliantly! We had nearly double the amount of rafts from last year and there were some really fantastic ones.
?There were three with pedals and one with a screw propeller, which was one of the categories I was trying to encourage ? it was like a huge dragonfly, it was fantastic.?
Rex said he was delighted with the increase in the number of teams entering the race this year, which will raise funds for Tavistock and District Mencap Society.
The teams were also able to split their sponsorship 50/50 with another charity of their choice.
He said it was too soon to tell how much money the event had raised ? but hoped the success of the event would herald an even bigger race next year.
?We are trying to make this quite a major event for this part of the South West.
?Everyone had lots of fun, everyone was smiling ? I?m really chuffed,? he said.
The prize for the fastest overall team went to the Blue Torpedoes from the Okehampton area; fastest all female crew was won by Dr Cox and his Naughty-Cow Nurses; best dressed crew was won by the Bog Off Seniors, dressed as Vikings; most interesting raft was won by the Rescuers and most technically innovative raft was won by the Paddle Boat team.