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The Guernsey Harbour Carnival is packed full of fun, but it also brings out the competitive side.
It takes place this year on Friday 23 August and The Ladies’ Dinghy Race is one of the highlights.
Teams of six go head-to-head to claim the honours.
Four team members use their hands to propel their rubber dinghy across the harbour and pick up two more crew members before heading back to the finish line.
Isabelle Vets team members have taken part in the race for 20 years and clocked up an impressive four wins in a row between 2018 and 2022.
It's an event everyone at the practice looks forward to.
Pictured: Isabelle Vets' ladies dinghy race team from 2023.
Beckie Bailey, a veterinary care assistant, has been a regular member of the dinghy team since joining Isabelle Vets three years ago.
"The dinghy race is so much fun and it's a brilliant way to support the community and local charities, but it does bring out your competitive side as everyone wants to win," she said.
"The adrenaline starts flowing and even if your arms start aching, you just keep paddling. There's lots of friendly rivalry between local businesses who take part and watching us all splashing around is a real treat for the spectators.
"We've won the race several times over the years but we don't do any training and just go for it on the day. Our tips for success include getting down to the harbour as early as possible to select the best possible dinghy – some certainly look more sea-worthy than others. Last year, a poor choice of dinghy scuppered our chances!
"The race can also be won or lost on how daring your team-mates are who are waiting for you at the other end of the harbour, and how big a leap they take from the platform. It can sometimes be a struggle for them to climb into the dinghy and you need to be careful you don't take on too much water.
Pictured: The Isabelle Vets team have shared their 'tips for success'.
"In terms of technique, we tend to place our more athletic or stronger team members at the back of the dinghy to help power us forward. Rhiannon Dowinton, one of our RVNs who won a gold medal at last year's Island Games last year, is our strongest team member and is fabulous at providing some power.
"Occasionally, you'll see a team with someone who opts to stay in the water and swim behind, but unless you're a really strong swimmer that can be very tiring, as pushing along a dinghy with another four or five people inside is harder work than paddling.
"If you haven't taken part before, my tip would be to sit at the front – if you're further back you're going to get splashed with a lot of water. However, there is no chance of staying dry, especially as members of the Harbour Carnival support team stand around the harbour and spray competitors with water!
"Team members who are not taking to the water will be cheerleading from the sidelines and having the support of our brilliant Isabelle Vets colleagues makes a huge difference to our performance."
Find out more about how to enter HERE.
The Harbour Carnival, organised by the Guernsey Round Table, is raising money for Channel Islands Air Search.
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