Swanage Carnival 2024 drew towards a close with one of the traditional stars of the show – a joyful free for all that might be best described as organised chaos.
Although the sport is never likely to find a place at the Olympic Games, the annual Swanage Wheelbarrow Race on the penultimate day of carnival week was keenly contested, cheered on by thousands and finished without a hint of controversy.
More than 50 teams registered for the wheelbarrow race
Shore Road was something of a melee at times as more and more teams turned up
The racers appeared to be paying attention to the race rules…
But once the starter went, it was every man, woman and Italian plumber for themselves
The usual mayhem and madness
More than 50 teams entered the annual race and created the usual mayhem and madness through Swanage town centre on Friday 2nd August 2024.
Teams of two set off on a race around Swanage town centre, pausing briefly to stop at 13 pubs and restaurants on the way to knock back half a pint of beer before continuing on their way to the finishing line on Shore Road.
Beyond that, rules were sketchy to say the least with various teams cutting corners, barrowing into opponents, spilling beer, carrying their wheelbarrows and switching places – but no one seemed to mind in the slightest.
Beer was waiting for the teams at every pit stop around the Swanage course
Nothing in the rules prevented drink from being knocked back while on the move
But plenty of it went flying as spills inevitably followed thrills
Did someone mention the words organised chaos?
Optional stop at the Scott Arms
The route took teams along the sea front to make their first stop at The Cellar Bar, then along Institute Road and the lower High Street, followed by visits to the Snack Bar, Gee Whites and a U-turn at Swanage Pier.
Smoke on the Water hosted the next stop, before teams visited East Bar, the Fonc Lounge, the White Horse, the Ship, the White Swan, the Anchor, the Red Lion and the Conservative Club before heading back down Station Road towards the finish.
Judges had also suggested an optional stop at the Scott Arms in Kingston, but no teams appeared to have the inclination to take up the invitation!
It was neck and neck as Luigi and Olaf became unlikely rivals
The sport was taken remarkably seriously as contestants pushed for an advantage
And there was some seriously fast food on the streets of Swanage
Sometimes there are quicker ways to travel than by wheelbarrow
Conditions could not have been better
After less than 10 minutes, with only a handful of fallers, injuries and damaged wheelbarrows, the first teams crossed the finishing lines, with the overall winners declared as Team Rae.
Team M and Z were crowned the women’s team winners, while team Jurassic Barrow was voted to be the best fancy dress in the race – fitting for the carnival’s overall theme of Jurassic Rocks.
Unlike in wet and windy 2023, the weather for carnival week was hot and sunny – although that brought its own problems when Scruffs Dog Show had to be cancelled because temperatures were simply too high for the animals’ safety.
But conditions for wheelbarrow racing could simply not have been any better and a crowd of thousands lined Swanage’s streets to cheer on their favourite teams.
Flying ahead, Aladdin and a friend like he’s never had before
Itsa me, Mario, desperately wondering how much further there is to go
Did we club together to buy this barrow, Fred?
Jurassic wrecks – it could be hard going in the sunshine at times
“Swanage knows how to have a good time!”
Chair of Swanage Carnival Darren Strong said:
“We’ve had a fantastic week of weather and an amazing carnival, which we hope will have raised lots of money for the town’s charities.
“There was an electrifying atmosphere for the wheelbarrow race, which is always the star of carnival week and shows beyond doubt that Swanage really knows how to have a good time!
“We are very grateful for all the pubs and restaurants which support the event and were delighted to see so many people in town to watch the race and enjoy themselves afterwards.
“It has been wonderful to see so many people in Swanage through all eight days of carnival week having a great time and supporting local businesses.”
The lobsters are overtaking in the outside lane – Clare Balding, eat your heart out
Bringing up the rear, but even with a flat tyre, teams were determined to complete the course
And the winners were … Team Rae, who prefer the amber nectar to gold medals
The best fancy dress team, Jurassic Barrow, on their way round the course
Carnival closed with T-Rex’s greatest hits
A packed programme for the week included new events such as a community day of top local entertainment from the Ranger School of Dance, Swanage Musical Theatre and Allsort’d, silent discos and a circus skills workshop.
The carnival committee had chosen a Jurassic theme for the 2024 carnival, and included several dinosaur themed events – like a chance for selfies with Rexy, the T-Rex from A Night at the Museum, a Dino Derby and a dinosaur show.
Fittingly, the week concluded with another chance to see Percy the (plastic) Plesiosaur and record holding swimmer Oly Rush return to Swanage Bay and the BBC-featured tribute band T-Rextasy who closed the carnival with a concert of the greatest hits from T-Rex and Marc Bolan.
All generations joined in the fun of Swanage’s Wheelbarrow Race
I’ll be doing whatever snow does in summer – Olaf’s chilling before the race
Why are pirates so eager to enter a wheelbarrow race? They just arrrrr…..
And it’s goodnight from us, for another year
Further information
- Relive the best of 2024’s festivities on the Swanage Carnival website
