Great Knaresborough Bed Race – Saturday 14 June 2014

1 June 2014

The stage is set for the 2014 Great Knaresborough Bed Race, the 49th edition of this annual event, first held in 1966.

As ever, this great spectacle is in two parts: the gathering of the decorated beds and the race itself, run as a series of time trials. Everything is organised by volunteers, run by amateurs and staged to raise money for good causes.

The team that organises Bed Race, the Knaresborough Lions hope the event will bring in £100,000 for charity.

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On the morning of Saturday 14 June, 90 beds of six runners and a passenger will gather at Knaresborough Castle decorated in this year’s theme – ‘Children’s TV and Film Characters’. They are judged in the morning for the Best Dressed Bed awards, won in 2013 by First Scriven Scouts, followed by Lido Loonies and St John’s Juggernauts. This year’s winners will be announced at noon, says Bed Race chairman Gordon Renton.

 

Gordon said: The standard gets better very year.
Nearly all of the teams come from Knaresborough, Harrogate and the immediate area and Bed Race has created a real dedicated to creating these decorations and the fancy dress worn by the teams.

It gives the town a real boost. Most of the charity funds go to local good causes and last year the Chamber of Trade said the event is worth £350,000 to businesses in and around the town.

 

At 1 pm the Parade will start from the Castle, taking in the High Street and Bond End before passing into the grounds of Conyngham Hall, where the decorations and fancy dress are divested to racing trim.

 

Gordon added: For many Bed Race watchers this Parade is the high spot. Along with the teams there are marching bands, dance groups and plenty of helpers, all dressed up. It is a fabulous sight.

 

Bed Race June 2013 154 (640x427)

Bed Race June 2013 225 (640x427)

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During the Parade the Most Entertaining Team award is judged. Killer Queens Nippers Men won this last year.

The Race itself starts at 3 pm. Teams go off at approximately 10-second intervals, starting with those the organisers believe to be the fastest. The route takes them through the grounds of Conyngham Hall, onto Waterside and through Nidd Gorge. There are ample opportunities for overtaking at various places around the course, with the first real test being the very steep climb up to the Castle and Marketplace.

Speeds increase as the teams hurtle down High street and Bond End. They cross High Bridge and race through the parkland of McIntosh Field on the far side of the river. Then comes the greatest challenge: the 25 yard swim through the icy waters of the River Nidd for the bed, all six runners and the passenger, before slithering up the bank to the finish line.

The course is 2.4 miles long and the fastest teams do it in 13 to 14 minutes; the slowest in about half-an-hour. There are awards for the fastest team and the fastest female team, mixed team and new team, as well as fastest junior male and female teams.

Results from 2013

  • Fastest team Harrogate Harriers 13 mins 10 secs
  • Fastest female team Ripon Runners for Girls 16 mins 13 secs
  • Fastest new team Half Moon Knaresborough Striders 16 mins 54 secs
  • Fastest mixed team Wyvill’s Whirlwind 18 mins 26 secs
  • Fastest male junior team 7 Peas in a Pod 16 mins 59 secs
  • Fastest female junior team Knaresborough Celtic Girls 21 mins 2 secs

Bed Race 2014 Team List

CATEGORIES ARE: M – Male, F – Female, X – Mixed, c – Club Team f – Fast team, e – Entertaining Team, n – New Team, j – junior

Team Name

Category

Start Position

Harrogate Harriers

Mfc

01

Ripon Runners

Mfc

02

Planet Steel

Mfc

03

Knaresborough Striders Men

Mfc

04

Nidd Valley Road Runners Men ‘B’ Team

Mfc

05

Guardian Alarms

Mf

06

G H Brooks Blockheads

Mf

07

Castle Clinic

Mf

08

Welly Wheelers

Mf

09

Piccadilly Men

Mf

10

The Magnificent Seven

Mf

11

Harrogate Racers For A D Group Holdings Ltd

Mf

12

The Wacky Racers

Mf

13

Oatlands Infants School Mens

Mf

14

Ripon Runners Girls

Ffc

15

G H Brooks Lumberjacks

Mf

16

The Asthmatic Ants

Mf

17

The Half Moon

Mf

18

7 Peas In A Pod

Mf

19

The Rocket Men

Mf

20

Piccadilly Plodders

Mf

21

The Young Ones

Mf

22

Meadowside Malingerers

Mf

23

Six Pack

Mf

24

Nippers Men Killer Queens

Mf

25

Knaresborough Scouts

Me

26

Bobby Dazzlers

Me

27

Harrogate Young Life Juniors

Mjf

28

Knaresborough Silver Band

Mf

29

Scotton Scorchers JFC

Mf

30

St.john’s Juggernauts

Mf

31

The Golden Oldies

Mfn

32

Harrogate Shotokan Karate Club

Me

33

Rugby Runners

Mf

34

Platinum Sprint

Mf

35

Stephenson’s Rockets

Mf

36

The HACS Group

Me

37

The Younger Ones

Mf

38

Colin’s Nuts

Mf

39

Wyrill’s Whirlwind

Xf

40

The Stockys

Xf

41

Armed Forces Fitness Harrogate

Xf

42

Hardgear Teamwear

Me

43

Fishers Till We Die

Xf

44

Yorkshire Cancer Research

Xf

45

Commercial Estates Group

Mf

46

Knaresborough Town Juniors Sponsored by CNG

Mjf

47

Welly Wheeners

Xf

48

Despicable Mums

Fe

49

Harrogate Rugby Racers

Mjf

50

P & G Team 1

Me

51

Tewit Youth Band

Me

52

Bingley Arms Bardsey – The Old Boys

Me

53

MHS Army

Mf

54

Team CNG

Xe

55

Beech House Bandits

Xe

56

The Minions

Xe

57

Taylors of Harrogate: Tea

Me

58

Taylors of Harrogate: Coffee

Xe

59

Flying Mechanics Sponsored By HACS

Me

60

Harrogate Round Table

Me

61

George And Dragon

Xe

62

Broker Network Bounders

Xe

63

Piccadilly Fillies

Ff

64

Skylarks

Ff

65

1st Scriven Scouts

Mj

66

2nd Knaresborough Rainbows

Fe

67

Knaresborough Celtic Girls Under 16

Fjf

68

St Michaels

Me

69

Lexy’s Midnight Runners

Ff

70

Vida Leaders

Xe

71

Arrow Self Drive

Mne

72

Belzona Bullets

Ff

73

Manning Stainton

Me

74

Team BHP

Me

75

Meadowside Maidens

Ff

76

Oatlands Infants Ladies

Ff

77

Info-Maniacs

Xf

78

Scrummie Mummies

Fe

79

Pulse Racers

Xe

80

Churches Together Ladies

Fe

81

Scotton Lingerfield Ladies

Fe

82

Charlies Angels

Fjf

83

Cairn Superheroes

Xe

84

Team Red Beer

Xe

85

P & G Graduates

Xe

86

Heels On Wheels

Fje

87

Kippax Welfare JARLFC

Xe

88

Rowdy Roosters

Me

89

Mencap

Xe

90

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