Schedule of Events

PLEASE NOTE: Closing date for entries is Saturday 21st August 2010

Brief History & FAQ’s

The Rother Raft Race was founded in 1981 by Chris Konieczny to raise money for the Petworth Panthers Football club and to build Duncton Pavilion. It has grown ever since and raises thousands of pounds for local charities every year. The event is run by volunteers and can only continue with your valued support so please enter a raft and join in the fun on the River Rother whilst raising money for worthwhile causes.


When is it held?

The Rother Raft Race is held every year on the Sunday of the August Bank Holiday.

Where does the Rother Raft Race Start from?

It commences at Cowdray Ruins, Midhurst, West Sussex, See Course Map and depending on whether you’ve entered the adults class or the youths class, you will either finish at Lods Bridge, Selham (adults), a total distance of 3.75 miles or the Fish Ladder, Ambersham for the youths, a total distance of 2.5 miles. Note: Youth teams may continue to Lods Bridge with their parent’s permission howver the youth teams cannot go down the Fish Ladder. They must go round it.


The Rother Raft Race assembles at Cowdray Ruins at 10 AM. There is a drop off area for the rafts and car parking is FREE and sign posted. On race day we ask you to sign in and wait with your raft and your equipment until you have been checked by the marshals ( the sooner you sign in on the day the sooner the marshals will check your rafts).

What time does the Rother Raft Race start?

The launch is at 1 PM, youths set off first in numerical order followed by the adults, so basically, the earlier you send your application form in, the sooner you will start as you will have been given a lower start number.


Are there any refreshments available?

There are refreshments for sale on the day at the start and end of the rafting course.

PLEASE NOTE: All rafts must be removed from the start field/river banks/finish field by the end of the day.