Up the Ettrick with a paddle

The race, hotly contested every year and held in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, begins from the riverbank at Honey Cottage Caravan Site, Ettrick.

Start times – which will be given to each team of four on receipt of their application – will be staggered throughout the afternoon.

The rafts will be timed between two bridges – Annelshope Bridge to Tushielaw Bridge – giving one mile of stunning scenery and frantic paddling. The prizegiving will be presented at the end of the race, and the Elliot Henderson Trophy will be presented to the winning team.

The rules are fairly simple. All rafts have to be sponsored, and be a maximum of 8ft square, with no inflatables, engines or modified canoes or kayaks permitted.

The crews of four people to a raft must be high school age or over and include a minimum of two adults (over-18s). All members of the crew must be able to swim, and must wear helmets and lifejackets for the duration of the race.

Entry and sponsor forms can be found on the event’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com (search for Ettrick River Raft Race 2016) – alternatively, email [email protected] and she will forward them to you.

The closing date for entries is September 11.

All sponsor forms and money collected by each team should be returned to Marjory Tennant, Gilmanscleuch Farm, Ettrick, TD7 5HR, by October 31.