Knaresborough Lions is inviting local organisations to apply for grants.

The Lions organises annual events such as Knaresborough Bed Race and the town’s beer festival and is using funds raised to support organisations in Knaresborough, surrounding villages and the wider Nidderdale area.

The Lions Community Fund will award grants to one-off projects.

The charity advised applications “will be considered only from properly constituted organisations rather than from individuals”.

Knaresborough Lions president Bob Godsell said:

“We have staged similar funding opportunities in the past before the outbreak of covid. Though we maintained help for local people during the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the effect of these was to seriously reduce our fundraising activity.

“Happily, over the past couple of years, matters have recovered, and we are now once more in a position to help. We welcome applications from any local groups involved in providing services in their community.”

Lions president Bob Godsell (left) and past president Richard Hall.

Applicants are advised to indicate the costs of the proposed project and the amount of grant requested.

There is no upper limit to applications, but, in previous years, requests have ranged from £100 to £1,000.

Applications forms must be submitted by November 30 at 5pm.

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Knaresborough’s hopes of a home town bed race winner ended in bizarre fashion on Saturday when their bed malfunctioned early in the race.

The town has proudly hosted the whacky annual event since 1966 but its men’s running club, Knaresborough Striders, has never won.

The club’s fastest runners trained hard in the months leading up to the 2.4-mile race in the hope of putting that right.

They lined-up third on the grid behind defending champions GH Brooks and Ripon Runners, confident they could mount a challenge in what is a fiercely contested event amongst local running clubs.

But hardly had the team got out the traps at Conyngham Hall than its bed started wobbling and shortly afterwards a wheel seized up completely on Waterside.

As other teams raced by, their hopes of victory shattered, they ditched the bed, sprinted along Waterside to collect a spare bed one of the team had at their nearby home and rejoined the race.

They managed a remarkable 16 minutes and 12 seconds, which would have been good enough for 10th place, but it is not listed among the official results because the spare bed did not have a timing chip.

Guy Close, chairman of Knaresborough Striders, hailed the “incredible team spirit” shown at a time of crushing disappointment. He said:

“This was the first time a team has ever had to stop and then replaced its bed mid-race.

“We were all absolutely gutted because we hoped to challenge the top couple of teams, but these things happen.”

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A still from the bed camera showing the team marooned on Waterside.

This video shot by a camera on board the bed captured the team’s bad luck. Mr Close said:

“The bed broke almost immediately. You can hear from the link to the YouTube video that it wasn’t right from the start.

“We were all so determined and the support from the crowds was incredible.”

Full results of this year’s bed race are available here.

Knaresborough was a sea of colour and joy today as huge crowds turned out for the annual bed race.

The event was first staged in 1966 and appears to be going stronger than ever, judging by the turnout and enthusiasm displayed today.

Ninety teams of seven took part in the 2.4-mile route through the town, which culminated in crossing the River Nidd.

A team representing builders merchants GH Brooks stormed to victory in the men’s race once again, but were pushed close by Ripon Runners. It was the fourth time in succession GH Brooks has taken the title.

Ripon Runners, however, took first place in the women’s race.

Competition was equally fierce in the Best Dressed Team competition just before the race.

A team called The Rocketmen took the accolade for a Jurassic Park-themed bed that featured animatronics.

They then led the parade from the castle through town to Conyngham Hall where the race started and finished. The parade had only just got underway when it had to be temporarily halted due to a person falling ill.

Organised by Knaresborough Lions, a large army of volunteers helped to keep things running smoothly on a day of unbroken sun.

Here are some photos from the day.

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The winning GH Brooks team

The Best Dressed Team award winner

Dad’s Army

The theme this year was ‘That’s Entertainment’

Having fun at the castle before the race

GH Brooks had two outstanding teams

Harrogate Symphony Orchestra patriotically-attired.

Ripon Runners gave another strong performance

Crossing the Nidd

One of the day’s most creative efforts

Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre will be pulling out all the stops to bring a festival feel to Knaresborough on Bed Race day next month. 

As the race gets underway on Saturday, June 10, Henshaws will be celebrating with BedFest, which promises to be bigger and better than last year’s sold-out event. 

Kicking off at midday, BedFest will offer some mouth-watering food options, with wood-fired pizzas, loaded fries and sweet treats, plus pop-up Mexican street food thanks to Paradise Tap & Taco. 

Harrogate Brewery and Knaresborough-based Turning Point will be serving a top range of beers, as well as gins, wine, fizz, cider and soft drinks for the kids. 

There will also be some of the finest local musicians around, across two eclectic stages, including renowned DJ Rory Hoy, acoustic singer Leo Hicks, Yorkshire reggae band Drop Leg Steppers, Hot Sauce, DJ Trev and rapper legend Lence. 

Award-winning DJ Rory Hoy has produced music for film, TV and adverts, including tracks for Disney.

The venue is on the route of the Great Knaresborough Bed Race, which starts at 3pm, following the Dressed Bed parade through town at 1pm. 

Visitors to BedFest will be able to gather at the Arts & Crafts Centre gates to watch the parade, whose theme this year is “That’s Entertainment”, then come back inside the Centre to enjoy the food, drink and music. They can then go back to watch as the beds speed down Bond End before they take on the final challenge of crossing the River Nidd. A wristband will give visitors access from midday right through to 11pm. 

BedFest sponsorship and corporate hospitality packages are now available. Gemma Young, fundraising development manager at Henshaws, said:  

“A real local gem, the Arts and Crafts Centre – available to hire for celebrations and events year-round – offers a unique setting in the heart of Knaresborough. We are looking forward to welcoming friends old and new to share our special and inspiring space.  

“As a small fundraising team, we rely on the support of our fantastic volunteers to deliver our programme of events. If you’d like to find out more about getting involved and supporting a local charity through volunteering, we’d love to hear from you.” 

BedFest promises fun, food and music for visitors of all ages.

Caroline Sullivan, optometrist director at event sponsor Specsavers, said:  

“BedFest represents a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community to raise money for a very important cause. We are proud to have Henshaws as our chosen charity, and the team at Specsavers had a brilliant time volunteering at the recent Beer Festival and are looking forward to being involved in the annual Henshaws Hundreds challenge in June too.” 

Tickets for BedFest are on sale now at Henshaws Bed Fest 2023. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children (3-17); under-2s go free. Complimentary carer tickets are also available. 

A full programme of Knaresborough Bed Race events is available at www.bedrace.co.uk. 

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Organisers have confirmed the date and theme for next year’s 56th Great Knaresborough Bed Race.

The bed race is Knaresborough’s busiest day of the year, attracting around 30,000 people and providing a major boost for businesses.

Teams of six runners and a passenger aim to complete the 2.4-mile course, which passes through the River Nidd, as quickly as possible.

Event organiser The Lions Club of Knaresborough announced today next year’s event will stick with tradition by being held on the second Saturday in June, which will be June 10.

The Lions, which uses money generated to support local charities, also said the event will adopt a theme of That’s Entertainment.

This year’s bed race attracted perhaps its largest crowd ever but the number of teams entering fell to just over 80. It usually attracts a full quota of 120 and for the first time in about 20 years there was no need for a lottery to decide which teams took part.

Nigel Perry, secretary of the Lions, attributed the fall in participants to covid cancellations in 2020 and 2021, which led to some teams getting out of the habit of taking part but he is hopeful of numbers recovering.

The bed race, which dates back to 1966. plays out around the cobbled streets, steep hills and leafy parkland of Knaresborough, and attracts attention from around the world. It has spawned similar events in Germany, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and in other parts of the UK, and gets worldwide TV coverage.

Roads close and about 300 local people help with organisation on the day.

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Martin Brock, chairman of next year’s bed race, said:

“Nowhere offers the wonderful combination of spectacular scenery, an extremely taxing course and the final act of swimming through the ever-icy waters of the River Nidd.

“The event survived the pandemic and we feel that nothing can stop it, come hell or high water in the Nidd.”

Entry forms for the teams will appear from 1 January 2023 on the bed race website and must be sent in by the end of February.

Martin Brock, chairman of next year’s Bed Race, said:

“We want to give as wide a canvas as possible to encourage the inventiveness of Bed Race teams in the creation of their bed designs and fancy dress.

“For many, the parade of the decorated beds and the competition to win the Best Dressed Bed are the highlights of the event. But even the faster teams treat this part of the Bed Race contest as highly important.

“Each year, we see great ingenuity in the originality and creativity of the designs. It adds so much to the overall spectacle and makes the whole town a perfect stage for the Bed Race experience. Roll on next June!”

Winner of the 2022 Best Dressed Bed trophy was The Rocket Men. Second were 1st Scriven Scouts and third were Techbuyer. Special commendations were given to HENCHshaws, Aspin Avengers, SFC, Harrogate Symphony Orchestra and It’s a COP-out.