Bidwells punting challenge 2009

Perhaps starved of the adrenaline rush of closing a deal recently (sorry!), the teams took to the water with more fervour than other years.  This was to be no gentleman's race with the organisers throwing waterpistols off the first bridge to encourage skulduggery.

They needn't have bothered. Many teams had already stocked up with plastic jugs from the bar before the race and proceeded to give anyone in a four foot radius of their punt a soaking. Carter Jonas opted for mischief rather than muscle and went hell for leather for pole position - that's stealing other people's poles rather than first place!

As the teams made their way to the finish line tales of punt pirates and water boarding floated back to the adjudicators.

Winner of wettest contestant was Bidwell's Harvey Bibby who went home with the arguably the best prize: a novelty watergun with holster and belt after falling into the Cam just three metres from the finishing line.

Bidwells business space team motored to victory securing a comfortable first place, eagerly pursued by Lambert Smith Hampton who came in second.

Cheffins secured the ignoble title of last - but only because they failed to complete the course choosing instead to do a sneaky u-turn before reaching Magdalene bridge.

Not tiring of the wet stuff, word reaches me that some stayed at the bar congratulating or commiserating til chucking out time.

There'll be more coverage of the punting event in the 29th August edition but if you can't wait there is a short video of some of the action below.

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