Paddle (Something Unusual) Round the Pier
Thousands of people headed down to the beach this weekend to visit and take part in ‘Paddle’, Europe’s biggest free beach and watersports festival. Held on Hove Lawns, it features the best in water and urban sports along with live music, kids entertainment, ‘have a go’ opportunities and numerous events.
One of the old favourites, along with it’s famous sister’s title event – Paddle Round the Pier, is Paddle Something Unusual. In the organisers words, this event is “the perfect opportunity for those of you less stable in the community to excercise your creativity and join in the Paddle”.
Entry rules are pretty straightforward, unlike the direction of travel of many of the finished contraptions. Whatever it is, it has to float, be paddled manually with a minimum crew of two (who can swim), and in theory at least, be safe and capable of making the distance (about 400km).
The winner isn’t the fastest, but the most ridiculous craft to finish. Just as well really, as the first team to start on Sunday, who were playing swing ball whilst paddling a tennis court, were back on dry land well before the end of the first set, and the last craft to start, the Flotus Esprit hadn’t even made it onto the water.
All in aid of raising money for good causes, teams had to raise sponsorship and in return were rewarded with raffle tickets for the prize draw, valued up to £12,000. Not bad! And what better way to spend a gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon, than having a laugh with your mates at the seaside. Fantastic event at a fantastic festival.
