WESTBURY’S first White Horse Soapbox Derby event has been hailed a resounding success, with over 4,000 spectators coming to watch 20 teams of engineers and amateurs race down the hill which leads to the White Horse on Saturday, 21st May. The course was billed as the steepest, most challenging course in the UK.
Enjoying the sunshine, people from Westbury, Wiltshire and across the country came to experience the free event organised by Westbury Town Council. The mayor, cllr Sheila Kimmins said, “I wish to thank the events working group of the town council, headed by Ryan Child, for putting on such a fantastic event on Saturday. This was the first Soapbox derby that Westbury Town Council had put on, and so many of those who attended are asking for a repeat next year, which proves what a great success it was!”
Soapbox veterans, C12, won the event with their fastest run (25.79) 1.8 seconds faster than second place Team Salvage (27.59) and 2.2 seconds quicker than third placed Accelaramus (27.99).
The mayor said, “Congratulations to all competitors who built, and raced their soapboxes, each and every one of you were winners, because without you all we could not have held a rally.”
The crowds were able to watch the thrills and spills of the soapbox action on large screens and between the runs, there was plenty of opportunity to visit the engineering fair, enjoy the stalls and children’s rides and inflatables, with a beer tent and good selection of food stalls. DJ music sets, followed by live music, made for a festival atmosphere.
Cllr Kimmins concluded, “A big thank you must also go the White Horse Equestrian Centre for letting us to use their land and facilities, to all the staff of the town council who gave up their days, the volunteers, Team 10, and last but not least, the stall holders who added so much information and fun for so many. Thank you and many congratulations to everyone.”
Team 10 – a community action group of children from Westbury C of E Junior School – were tasked with the important job of handing out programmes and welcoming people to the event. The children, alongside other Year 5 children from the school, their parents and some ex-students gave up their time to hand out over 3,000 leaflets.
