| Where: | Matlock, Derbyshire - on River Derwent with start at Cawder Quarry and finish at Cromford Meadows |
| When: | Boxing Day 26th December |
| Time: | 10am |
Matlock Raft Race began in the early 1960s to raise cash for the RNLI, and every Boxing Day 4o or so craft begin the race over a four-mile course along the River Derwent. The rafts are an assortment of home-made vessels, some made for racing and others for comic effect with their crew in appropriate fancy dress. It is usual for some to sink or disintegrate long before the finish, particularly near the hazard of the weir by Masson Mill! Viewing is possible from the banks for most of the route and spectators bombard the craft with flour bombs while their victims retaliate with water jets. There are other raft races in the UK but this is one with a long pedigree and takes place annually – though the 2010 event had to be cancelled owing to trees and branches making the course unsafe and in 2019 it was cancelled also for safety reasons.
Helpful Hints
In cases of extreme weather or for safety reasons the event may be cancelled at the last minute – this happened in 2019 and 2023.
Spectators get a good view from most of the river bank – popular spots are Matlock Bridge and Masson Mill. Parking is freely available at Cromford Meadows by the rugby club near the finish (though be careful of soggy patches on the grass- we saw one car stuck there in 2017!). It’s possible to view from pavements along the route but if you want to watch from the grassy side take some wellies. Expect a crowd of thousands.
Participants just need to turn up with a raft and £15.00 per person entry fee. The race starts at 10.00am so you need to be there before then to get your raft in the water ready for the start. Access to the start is in the old Cawder quarry, just to the right of the Sainsbury’s entrance. Thanks to Terry for this helpful information – he’s been doing it for 20 years and says it’s great fun!
The current event organiser Matthew can be contacted by emailing mceyre@hotmail.co.uk
Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/187554703591/
and website : http://www.matlockraftevent.co.uk
so frustrating, can’t get the website http://www.dasac.co.uk
the address has issues????
Hi!
They must have some problems with the site – I’ve left the link on calendarcustoms for now in case it’s a temporary hitch but in the meantime I’ve added a link to their Facebook page which you can find at https://www.facebook.com/DerbyshireAssociationOfSubAquaClubs?fref=ts
There’s a link on the Facebook page to photos from the latest race. Hope you find what you wanted from there!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Hi,just wondering how to go about booking or how you can take part in the boxing day raft race
Hi Ryan,
Here at Calendarcustoms we haven’t any connection to the running of the event – you’ll need to contact the organisers direct to get booked in. Their website is out of action at the moment but you can find their Facebook page and get in touch that way at ttps://www.facebook.com/DerbyshireAssociationOfSubAquaClubs?fref=ts Best of luck!
Averil
Hi Ryan
You just need to turn up on Boxing Day with your raft and £12.00 per person entry fee. The race starts at 10.00am so you need to be there before then to get your raft in the water ready for the start. Access to the start is in the old Cawder quarry, just to the right of the Sainsbury’s entrance. I’ve being doing it for around 20 years, it’s great fun.
Terry
Thanks Terry!
That’s really helpful. I think because the event’s own website is out of action at the moment it’s making people a bit anxious about how to get involved, so I’ll put the info you’ve given into the Helpful Hints box on the page.
Cheers,
Averil
Hi Terry
New to the raft race but watched for many years. Would appreciate any info on entry, restrictions, wet suits, life jackets any rules /tips when making the raft etc. Or anything else I need to know. I only live at North Wingfield, so could pop over to Matlock for a chat sometime.
Cheers Tim
How old do you have to be to enter in the raft race?
Thanks
Emily 🙂
Hi Emily,
I’m not certain – think you might have to be 18. Contact the organises at https://www.facebook.com/DerbyshireAssociationOfSubAquaClubs?fref=ts and ehy’ll be able to give you all the rules. Best of luck,
Averil
Hi
Im doing an article on the raft races that took part on boxing day 2015 for university. If anyone could give me any quotes on how the day went, what their favourite rafts were, who they went with, do you go every year, that would be great 🙂
Thanks
Jess
Hi Jess,
I’ve put your comment up on the calendarcustoms page – I think you might get more results from the Facebook page which belongs to the organisers of the event so here’s a link to it https://www.facebook.com/DerbyshireAssociationOfSubAquaClubs?fref=ts Hope you get a good response!
Averil
Hi I have a good team willing to build an raise money for s good cause but Id like to know if you have to register for place in the race an hoe many pet tesm
Hi Ke!
Here at calendarcustoms we have no connection to the running of any of the events on the site, so you’ll need to contact the Race organisers direct – you can find their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DerbyshireAssociationOfSubAquaClubs?fref=ts and you can send them a message from that page.
I think you can register on the day – they’ll be able to pass all the rules on to help you. Best of luck!
Regards,
Averil
CONTACT ONE OF THE ORGANISERS at stephen.eyre@blueyonder.co.uk. All the details you will get from him.
Hello all.
Price of raft is £15per head. If you have a sponsor i£50 per sponsor.
I am the vice chairmam that organizes this event.
If you need any info about this event please email me at mceyre@hotmail.co.uk
Many thanks.
Thanks Matthew,
I’ve put your contact details under the “Helpful Hints” section on calendarcustoms so hopefully anyone with questions will know to contact you direct.
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi intrested in the raft race for this year [2016] what are the rules and are you allowed to use a kayak or open canoe,or does it have to be a raft. thank you.
Hi Mick,
The current event organiser Matthew can be contacted by emailing mceyre@hotmail.co.uk – I think the rules state it must be a raft but he’ll be able to fill you in with all the details!
Best of luck,
Averil
Hi averil just learnt that they gave cancelled this for 2019 sadly