RNLI Charity Raft Race at Portrush

The 24th Charity Raft Race will take place on 28th and 29th May 2005 in Portrush. This year's event will be bigger and better with a few new features and lots of the regular ones.

BBC Ulster will be broadcasting their Saturday Magazine Programme live from the Harbour with the programmes regular chef Paula McIntyre cooking fresh fish caught by local fishermen on the Harbour. Alan Simpson as usual will be Master of Ceremonies and he will be joined this year by popular local newsreader Sarah Travers. The Wild Geese will do their usual parachute display and the lifeboat crew will be joined by the new Irish Coastguard Helicopter for a thrilling rescue demonstration.

As well as all this there will be the usual festivities loads of music and fun with a tumble circus, stiltwalkers, face painters and lots of other activities.

The main feature of course will be the Raft Race itself starting at 3.30pm! Followed by the Vintage car rally at 7pm.

On Sunday a service of Thanksgiving on the quay will be followed by the Waiters race which is back by popular demand. Local waiters and staff of pubs and hotels have to complete a course round the harbour carrying trays of drinks. This all adds up a fabulous weekend's craic for all the family!

Below is the programme of events for Raft Race Day. A complete listing of all Coleraine Borough Council's Events for 2005 (including the Raft Race) is available from the Council Offices near Coleraine Marina.

Saturday 28th May 2005
10:00	RNLI Roadshow	Portrush ILB - Ken and Mary at Raft Race 2004
10:00	Activity Area Climbing Wall
10:00- 11:30	BBC Radio Ulster Live Broadcast: The Saturday Magazine. Presented by John Toal, the programme's regular chef Paula McIntyre will be cooking on the Harbour.
11:00	Charity Spring Fair
11:00	Junior Raft Race
11:00	Q97 Music on the Green
12:00	Alan Simpson entertains the Raft Racers
12:00	RNLI Pennant Yacht Race	"False Alarm" - good luck for 2005!
12:00- 15:30	Tumble Circus, Stiltwalkers, Face painters, Balloon modellers
13:00	Sarah Travers BBC Newsreader Joins Alan Simpson
14:30	Portrush Lifeboat and new Irish Coastguard Helicopter Demonstration
15:00	Wild Geese Parachute Display
15:25	Safety Announcement
15:30	Coca Cola Charity Raft Race
16:00	Coast and Crek Rodeo Ramp on the Harbour	Battling for the finish - 2004
16:00- 16:30	Pure Gold
16:30	Prize Presentation with Sarah Travers and Alan Simpson
17:00- 18:00	Re-Bjorn (Abba Music)
19:00	Classic Cars & Motorbikes
Evening	Charity Raft Racers at Kelly's Portrush
Sunday 29th May 2005
14:00	Lifeboat Service of Thanksgiving on the Quayside
15:15	Charity Waiter's Race (back by popular demand)