Coming up to the start line at the Old Thatch
There was no reining back the teams at Ferndown Pram Race on 21 June.
With 100 competitors jostling for the start, ingenuity and what looked like a pram load of fun belied the real competitive spirit that lurked beneath the wacky fancy dress costumes. The moment the chequered flag was lowered, it became evident as babies in prams hurtled into the distance from the Old Thatch that there was a serious edge to the competition.
Cheered on by spectators, they reached the Pure Drop and downed a pint in record time.The racers then had to put in at the first pit stop at Crowning Glory where they spent precious seconds waiting for the baby to get a hairdo.More pit stops in Victoria Road and a couple more pints to swallow should have slowed the teams down, but the first team to arrive steered their pram over the finish line within 20 minutes of the start, which was extremely quick.
Bootilicious Buccaneers
Dressed in camouflage, the winners had disguised their pram as a tank. Richie, Russel, Jamie, Paul and Tom received their trophy from Janine Pulford the editor of mags4dorset who sponsored 1st prize.The pram-tank-ulous creation, The Green Machine, was built by Russel, manufacturing manager of Marden Edwards and he said all the team had trained at Richie’s boot camp in Ferndown prior to the event.He added, “We really enjoyed the Pram Race and are already thinking of the next pram design to defend our title. We want to make something different. Someone has already asked if they can have our tank for next year!”
2nd was FSFC, Ferndown Sports Football Club and 3rd was Climacair with Trolly Roger.
Kings Park Alternative Sports Club
Bootilicious Buccaneers won the Best Dressed Team trophy, mags4dorset was awarded the Most Sporting Gesture for running to the aid of a pram that had lost its wheel (Kings Park 1). Kings Park 1 were presented with the funniest moment award because the wheel fell off; Best Looking Pram was The Green Machine and Kings Park Alternative Sports Club was awarded the wooden dummy sponsored by Y-Not Finance for coming last.
Organised by the Ferndown Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Ferndown Town Council, the Pram Race was a fund-raising event for various charities. Chairman of the Pram Race Committee, Tony Brown said, “I am delighted with how the race went. It’s just great to see so many people having fun and laughing. Seeing children, mums, dads and teenagers creased up with laughter whilst watching all the pit stops highlighted what the event is all about. The water pistol sales man must now be very rich!
“I had a brilliant organising committee who were so hardworking in putting this event on. Also the number of sponsors was brilliant and I would like to thank them all.We now can look forward to the rest of the festival week, the Fete on the Fields and the Great Ferndown Firewalk.”
