Intelligent Retail Wins Trophy for Best Craft in Crafty Craft race

Intelligent Retail aka Wallys Waders race 5 miles in craft for charity

On a beautiful May spring sunny day Wally’s Waders launched their streamlined craft into the cold canal waters. Just over 4 hours later, after 6 locks, 24 eggs (all aimed at Steve), having sunk twice and four personnel overboard, with the craft in many pieces the klaxon screeched announcing Wally’s Waders had made it past the finish line. A short time later the organisers heralded the Wally’s Waders craft the best in the event. We have no idea how them came to this conclusion!

The pace at the start was rapid and the team were talking of finishing in 90 minutes. However this was not to be as the craft and crew were pushed to their limits by the course.

Steph and David F were the first to sink, as the far side hull filled with water, there was no escape from the inevitable soaking.

With the craft full of water the brave ground crew with Helen, Lisa and Ying pulled and pushed to haul the heavy craft out and empty it to allow the team to continue its journey.

After a few miles the crew had to strap together the craft that was now feeling the strain of being pulled out of the water and carried at shoulder height around the locks.

Now with the craft unstable, David, Carl and Anne all took their turn in the drink. But the rowers were unstoppable and Graeme, Rob, Gabriel, Nathan, Steph and Steve just kept going to the crowd pointing and shouting ‘I found Wally!’.

With the intrepid finish line crew including Catherine, Claire, Stacey and Mark braving the sun’s rays for hours, only breaking to layer on the factor 4 or to pour another wine spritzer, the victorious (of sorts) team departed to the pub and were thankful for a well earned large cold one.

Intelligent Retail raised over £400 for the Round Table Crafty Craft charity. Images from Newbury Weekly newspaper.