THE Boat Race Bash in Ely once again brought people together at Jubilee Gardens to mark the annual clash between Oxford and Cambridge and to celebrate the city s involvement with the sporting event. Chairman of Ely Rowing Club Derek Pickersgill has writt

THE Boat Race Bash in Ely once again brought people together at Jubilee Gardens to mark the annual clash between Oxford and Cambridge and to celebrate the city's involvement with the sporting event.

Chairman of Ely Rowing Club Derek Pickersgill has written this special report on the day.

An early chill and overcast skies rapidly gave way to beautiful spring weather for the Isle of Ely Rowing Club's second Boat Race Bash on Easter Saturday. Ely's deputy Mayor Ron Bradney opened the event and the welcoming address was given by the club's vice-chairman Vicki Parry. Mrs Parry said that besides raising money for the rowing club, the purpose of the event was to publicise the four-pint bridge project and to emphasise the open, community nature of both the rowing and sailing clubs.

The afternoon got off to a melodious start with music from the Five to Two band whose impeccable coordination and sense of rhythm would have done credit to any boat race crew. More basic needs were satisfied by the burger, cake and drinks stalls, and a pair of rowing machines provided an outlet for excess energy. Displays by the sailing and rowing clubs attracted much attention as did the showing of the BBC's Ely Countryfile recording.

The highlight of the afternoon was the screening of the 153rd University Boat Race from the Thames on three large flat screen televisions loaned by Hughes Electrical. The race was one of the best of recent years and, given that Cambridge use Ely as a base for their training, it was not surprising that a roar of approval greeted their victory by one and a quarter lengths.

Hughes Electrical were also the generous donors of a Toshiba 20-inch flat-screen television as the first prize for the raffle draw for which concluded the afternoon's proceedings. The winner of this splendid piece of kit of was Mr John Yates of Ely.

The next event to be organised by the Rowing Club and friends will be the Ely "Classic" Regatta on Saturday, June 23.

INFO: For more information contact: Derek Pickersgill on 01353 659306 for rowing, Alan White on 07778 280456 for sailing and Jack Waterfall on 07767 795895 for details of the four-Pint bridge.