Last Sunday saw the return of the Elstead Paperboat Race. This annual fundraising event is run by Elstead Girlguiding Brownies and Rainbow groups who are a part of Girlguiding Haslemere Division.

There was a great turnout as usual with more than 250 people attending from Elstead and the surrounding villages and 64 adventurous children and adults braving the waters of Elstead Moat.

 There was a Disney theme to the event, in celebration of 100 years of Disney with some very creative designs!

St James Primary School Elstead took part, with Year 6 building boats for their Houses (Reffold, Tilson, Young and Ellis).

There was lots of excitement with some early sinkings upon entry to the water, and the winning boats managing an impressive five laps in the children’s race and six in the adults.  

Some boats even came out fully intact from the children’s races and went on to sail again in the adults’ race, with some of the parents clearly not having envisaged this prospect and hadn’t dressed accordingly! There was a very clear competitive element involved, with some of last year’s winners returning to defend their title.

Prizes were given for the most laps in the children’s and adult races, the best design and the best sinking.

Stalls were run by Elstead Brownies and Rainbows along with their Girlguiding leaders and funds raised will support the local groups to go and have new adventures.

Sam Taylor, of Elstead Brownies, said: “It was a great community event. Thanks to all involved.”