One of the Regatta’s most popular events of the past returns this year after a ten year absence.
The Greasy Pole event has been resurrected and is sure to draw in a bumper crowd of spectators to watch anyone brave enough to tackle it.
It will be off the Fish Pier in front of the lifeboat station at 12.10pm tomorrow (Saturday) with registration for participants opening at 10.30am.
A 50 foot long tree, donated by The Mulgrave Estate, has been cut down to a 37 feet stretch for hopefuls looking to make it to the end and grab the flag.
Kev and Lindsay Close, of Turvey’s Tattoos, have organised the return of the Greasy Pole and say there has been more interest in its return than they were expecting.
They were inspired to do it after learning that part of the reason for it ending was there not being enough people and volunteers to run it.
Kev told The Anchor: “I used to row as a kid and the greasy pole would be on while we were rowing. It was a big part of the weekend. When I asked around, there was definitely an appetite for having it back.”
Registration to take part is from 10.30am onwards tomorrow at the Fish Pier. Each participant gets a medal and there is a cup for the eventual winner. Safety boats and jet skis will also be operating in the harbour.
While there has been a fair bit of organisation, it has all come together, says Kev, also getting involved to bring more and younger people to the Regatta committee.
He said: “Everywhere you go people are talking about the greasy pole. There has been more interest than I thought, it has been amazing.
“It was a conscious decision to get involved in the Regatta. The committee are run off their feet all year organising it. Lindsay is vice-captain of the Fisherlads, I organise the bike show and we are trying to put as much into it as we can.”
