Planet steel make it a Double at Bed Race 2016

Planet Steel won their second consecutive fastest team trophy at the 2016 Great Knaresborough Bed Race in a lung-bursting 13 minutes 15 seconds, matching their 2015 time. In second place were Ripon Runners Men in 13 minutes 29 seconds and third were G H Brooks Men in 14 minutes 5 seconds. 

The fastest female team were Ripon Runners Girls, 16 minutes 54 seconds, and 20th overall, continuing their success of the last few years. All results can be found on this website.

Conditions were good for the 2016 event with cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. Seven teams finished in under 15 minutes and 59 in under 20 minutes. The slowest teams, getting in at 24 and 25 minutes, also did exceptionally well, showing yet again the true competitive spirit that drives all Bed Racers to beat their rivals or their past times.

The level in River Nidd was at its lowest for many years for the final act of Bed Race, the 30-yard swim. Whether this or higher water levels help divides opinion, with some contending that low levels mean teams can wade through part of the river with softer currents, while others saying higher water means it is easier to get the bed in and out of the river. Whatever is true, it is still possible to feel sympathy for the slower teams who have to slither up a river bank at the end of the race made wet by the teams that have gone before. It pays to be quick at the Great Knaresborough Bed Race.

So, Bed Race is over for another year closing the chapter on the 51st event. The Knaresborough Lions still have a couple of weeks of putting things away for next year and put out an appeal to anyone who wants to help the Club organise this fantastic event to get in touch via the Contact page on this website. We always need new volunteers to join our organising group.

The 2017 theme will be announced on this website and entry forms will be made available on 1 January 2017.

It only means now to thank all who helped, all who took part, all the various sponsors who made the event possible, all the official bodies and volunteers who made it safe and such a great family event, and all the people who took part or came to watch. See you all next year!