AMT Public

North Yorkshire’s Great Knaresborough Bed Race had broken all records even as the last team emerged from the churning waters of the River Nidd. Run on 12 June, the event hosted the largest field, attracted the biggest audience and raised substantial amounts for charities and local causes.

More teams than ever took part at 91, up from 86 in 2009. Record crowds were reported with estimates suggesting that 20,000 outsiders had visited the town for the day.

It is too early to say whether last year’s £80,000 raised for charity will be exceeded, says Bed Race organisers the Knaresborough Lions, but first signs are that despite the gloomy economy, donors have been as generous as ever.

What was extremely fortunate was that the Race, run traditionally on the second Saturday in June – the 12^th this year-  was blessed by the weather gods. Crowds basked in warm, sunny weather on the Saturday sandwiched between days of rain and chilly temperatures.

“This was the 45^th year of Bed Race,” said Knaresborough Mayor Richard Hall who also doubled as the Lions’ Club’s Bed Race chairman.

“We took a risk in extending the number of teams, but thanks to hard work and the hundreds of volunteers who turned up to help, it was extraordinarily successful.”

Two BBC crews covered the race – Songs of Praise with presenter Aled Jones, and Children’s TV with presenters Ed Petrie and Holly Walsh.

Aled was going to run with the Churches Together team but a last minute injury meant he was sidelined, though he was on hand to present the programme.

Children’s favourite Ed Petrie turned out with the men’s team from Oatlands Infants School, and Holly Walsh was the passenger on Nidd Valley Ladies. Oatlands finished 19^th, in a creditable time of 16 minutes 46 seconds.

Overall winning team was Ripon Runners for HPL, who came in under the 14 minute barrier and regained the trophy they last held in 2008. Last year, arch rivals Harrogate Harriers had been the fastest team but had to settle for second place.

Fastest ladies’ team were HPL Flyers who finished 12^th overall with a time of just over 16 minutes, ahead of most of the men’s teams. First Scriven Scouts won the fastest junior boys title and Dolls on the Run were the quickest junior girls’ team.

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race has been held each year since 1966. It is part gruelling time trial for the teams of six runners and one bed passenger, tearing along the scenic waterside and up the almost sheer climb to the Castle, through the streets of the medieval market town and back down to High Bridge.

Teams finish the course with a swim – runners, passengers, beds and all – through the River Nidd.

But it is also part pageant as seems particularly apt in this quirky North Yorkshire town. Beds and teams dress up in fancy dress for the first stage – this year’s theme was ‘occupations’.

Prizes are awarded for best dressed bed and most entertaining team. St John’s Jewels repeated last year’s success by winning the former category; Team Red Beer were judged the best entertainers.

Awards were also given for teams who raised the most for charity, always a year behind. HACS Trolley Dollies won the Sandra Bradley trophy for collecting £7,534 in 2009; Team Red Beer won the Piccadilly Motors trophy for the non-corporate supported team to have raised the most, with £3,000 last year.

And there was a special award, the Brian Hiscoe trophy, for the individual who has done most for Bed Race. The winner this year was 58-year old Bob Chatten, a Knaresborough local resident who has been running in Bed Race since 1974.

VIP guests included Harrogate’s new MP Andrew Jones and Harrogate’s Mayor Bill Hoult, the first Knaresborian for four decades to be Mayor of the larger town.

And mention should be made of the Bed Race team from Knaresborough’s twin town of Bebra, who cycled all the way from Germany, a distance of around 400 miles to take part.

They left Bebra on the Sunday before Bed Race, arriving on Thursday night. Friday was a chance to rest a little and practice a lot, before they took part in the event on Saturday afternoon.

Amazingly after all this, they still finished 9^th in 15minutes 48 seconds!

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race is one of the largest community events of its kind in the North of England. It is run by the volunteer Knaresborough Lions, part of Lions Club International, and is supported by commercial organisations Gillette, Piccadilly Motors, HACS, the Broker Network and G H Brooks. The event was promoted and compered by media partner Stray FM, the voice of Harrogate and Knaresborough.