A POPULAR Herefordshire race featuring hand made racing carts is set to return after a three-year absence due to Covid restrictions.
The annual Soap box Derby returns to the village of Richards Castle, between Leominster and Ludlow on the border of Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Downhill Billies tackle the course. Photo: Keith Gluyas.
The event, due to take place on Sunday, June 26, has seen a record number of entries, and will see a total of 38 soap boxes hurtling down the track at Hadway Common in the village.
Racers have travelled from as far and wide as Plymouth and Hertfordshire as well as some favourite local entries such as the Orleton Primary school red bus, Wallace and Gromit, and the return of the Trotter family with their yellow Reliant Robin.
The course is 550m long with a descent of 50m, with parts of the course steeper than others meaning participants can expect to reach speeds of up to 40mph.
A competitor loses control and ends upside-down. Photo: Keith Gluyas.
The event, which raises, up to £15,000 annually, will this year support the Ludlow Ukrainian Refugee Support Group, The Hope Centre in Bromyard, and Ludlow’s Men in Sheds.
The Soap box Derby starts at 10am on 26th June, tickets are £5 per adult on the gate, children under 16 are free of charge.
The Richards Castle Soap Box Derby will take place this Sunday
Kate Tudge, committee member for the Richards Castle Soap box Derby said: "We are enormously looking forward to welcoming everybody back to the races this year after narrowly missing out on holding the event last summer.
"We have a record number of entrants this year and we cant wait for the racing to start."
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