It was a case of Tom Sawyer meeting the ingenuity of local Scouts on June 9 at Riverside Park.
The Speed River hosted a number of strange contraptions June 9 at the 22nd Annual Speed River Raft Race – open to all Scout troops and Venturer companies.
In preparation for the event, local Scouts built rafts from wood spars and twine as part of the traditional category as well as anything suitable to their imagination for the open division.
Past designs included traditional flat rafts as well as more inventive paddle-wheel rafts or an entire canoe-like structure made solely from cardboard.
The 1st Guelph Firefighter Venturer Company was also busy lashing together its raft of empty water jugs and poles. “We have combined the traditions of Tom Sawyer with the style of Myth Busters,” boasted Venturer Scout Ryan Borho.
“It may not be pretty, but it will float.”
The local annual fun event proved to be a highlight of the year and entertained the audience as well as participants.
The race included two categories: traditional (wood spars, rope, string and twine, cardboard cartons and plastic. Duct tape may be used to assist in waterproofing) and open (everything else).
Results
Traditional category: first Place, 43rd Kitchener Scouts; second, 3rd Guelph Scouts; and third place – 43rd Kitchener Scouts.
Open category: first place, 1st Fergus Venturer Scouts; second, 3rd Guelph Scouts; and third, 6th Guelph Scouts.
The spirit award went to the 1st Lexington Venturer Scouts.
