The dawn broke over the Firs and true to form the gallant crews assembled on the patio at 7am armed with water cannons, buckets and beer. Some things never change! Vehicles were manned and the procession to Ironbridge was underway, as ever the eager crew toned their athletic physique with high carb drinks ready for the challenge ahead. (Well beer contains sugar doesn’t it?)

Due to the military precision of organisation on Saturday morning (Jenko breaking speed records in a 7.5 ton lorry and Mick thinking he was on a fairground ride.) the rafts already awaited the crew at the very front of the launch queue with slots of 3, 5 & 6.

Launching went well although it must be said the Lounge Raft did look a bit back heavy, must be all those late night Jalfrazi’s. As the drivers watched them row into the distance all equal pegging the story goes over to the camp fire stories told later.

All went well in the initial stages both 10 man rafts striving for their ultimate goal of the Prize Oar. The famous rapids of the Severn; however were to bring about the first disaster of the day. As the new super slim raft of Lounge entered the notorious currents the raft was tossed and the most feared cry of all was heard. MAN OVERBOARD! Along with others the fearless Captain Michael was tasting not the sweet taste of his Mild but the sour taste of the Severn, the others who joined him out balanced the raft and the inevitable occurred. The raft flipped, the barrels faced the sun and men were trapped below! Thanks to the quick thinking actions of fellow oarsmen the Captain & few, crewman Rob were grabbed from the lockers of Davy Jones and brought to the surface. With oxygen once more in the lungs they righted their raft and continued their voyage, thankful for the good luck of salvation shining upon them.
The Bar Team breezed through the rapids, aided by good fortune and navigation skills, but their luck was not to hold out. Further down the Severn the same fate as that of the Lounge Team awaited them. A rapid current and unforeseen danger’s was to take the Bar Team to a level they had never before encountered. When it happened it was fast and treacherous as the fast current seemed to end the raft chose its own course and like the Lounge Team before them, the bottoms of the barrels soon became the top of the raft. Not so lucky the current was not to carry the raft and the crew were trapped below. Captain Jenko was quick to assist his sole female crewman (errr opps woman) Sam (Why Didn’t I stay In Bed) Turner but it was his second mate who was suffering the most. Trapped between the upturned raft and rocks below Chris (I’m A Celebrity Get Me From Under Here) Turner was quickly saved by the powerful Gary (What The Hell Am I On This Raft For Again) Dodd, but we can all agree those few moments where more than traumatic. Jamie (I Thought Football Was Treacherous) materialized with a cut brow and Steve (Where’s The Surface) Maybury appeared gasping for air some twenty metres astern. A battle of the nature against man had taken place and any battle you can walk (or swim) away from is a fortunate one. Winded, shaken and bruised the crew headed to the banked raft and counted stock. With determination and courage Captain Jenko, Doddy, Dave The Brick and Mick (Red Card) McGinn reboarded to continue the journey.

Unaware of the adventures of our buccaneers the Firs supporters waited at Bridgnorth and were greeted after three and half hours by the sight of the Lounge ten man raft rowing to victory. Finally the Prize Oar was in their sights as they rowed to the finish, cold, shaken but victorious. They were to be followed by the four man floating brick of the Lounge who were to join them on the safe banks of dry land some 40 minutes later. Panic was soon setting in with no sight of previous four year champions the Bar Team. But a sight of sodden Guinness hats and yellow life jackets being transported by foot on the opposite side of the bank was to answer our worries. Better late than never however the appearance of a four man ten seater raft was to convey the afore told story.

As ever beers and food was laid on to cheer spirits some what, but this was too be a raft voyage that would not be forgotten and perhaps the ending chapter to a five year epic that has raised some much money for charity and put smiles on the faces of people less fortunate than ourselves.