The Maldon Mud Race

Description

The 'MAD' Maldon Mud Race - The History...

The Maldon Mud Race is probably one of the most unusual events in Great Britain and it certainly attracts the attention of not only the local media but also receives national, and global, coverage.

The 'Race' originated in 1974, with a dare being given by a local resident to the landlord of the "Queen's Head" Public House, which stands on Hythe Quay in Maldon, Essex, challenging him to serve a meal on the saltings of the River Blackwater whilst dressed in a tuxedo.

The challenge was duly accepted and carried out, resulting in the next year a bar being opened on the saltings. About twenty people made a mad dash across the river bed, drank a pint of beer and dashed back; this was the beginning of the Maldon Mud Race. In subsequent years so many people wished to take part in the event that the time taken to consume the beer caused a "logjam" on the saltings, so that part of the event was discontinued and the race reverted to a dash over the river bed and back again.

A rather delightful legend has been built up around the Mud Race concerning the ancient history of Maldon and the invasion, in 991, by the Danes and their legendary leader, "Olaf", which culminated in the famous "Battle of Maldon".

It is alleged that "Britnorth", the defending Saxon, was beheaded by the Danes somewhere in the bed of the River Blackwater. Although his body was recovered his head never was, so, each year the people of Maldon take part in the ritual of wading through the mud at low tide, searching desperately and in vain for the lost head of their Saxon leader.

The Mud Race was always a very successful event (from a novelty point of view, if nothing else) and continually took place every year from the rear of the Queen's Head Public House until 1989, when the facilities provided were no longer available, so the Mud Race ceased, despite public demand for it to continue.

However, near the end of 1993, the Maldon Carnival Association were looking to hold an event outside their highly successful 'Summer Carnival Week' and to ensure the Carnival Committee were able to extend their activities throughout the year, it was suggested that the Mud Race could be revived as part of the Carnival Association's activities. The Committee approached the earlier Mud Race Committee members and it was decided with the assistance of the Lions Club of Maldon, the event would have an excellent chance of revival.

In 1994, on Boxing Day, the revived Mud Race took place at the new venue of The Promenade Park, in Maldon and a field of 52 entrants took place (and survived) with about 5,000 people came to watch.

The novelty of this event certainly attracted people from all over, including an entrant from Holland and the race was covered on national terrestrial television and by the national press; reports of the event were published as far away as South Africa and Kuwait.

The revised event was designed to raise money for local charities and good causes and in the first year, the Mud Race raised over £2,500, which was distributed to three local charities. The second race took place in 1996 and the entry had increased from 52 to 132, generating £5,419 for charities, of this £1,735 was raised by entrants through sponsorship for their own particular charities. News had spread and the event was covered by CNN (Cable News Network) being shown on television in Australia and the USA.

In 1997 the event attracted a field of just over 120 registered competitors and was scheduled to be held on New Year's Day but freezing weather conditions forced its cancellation and the event was held later, on Easter Monday.

Concern over safety at public events meant the race was not staged between 1998 and 2000 and the Maldon Carnival Committee then decided to abandon the event. However, one member of the Carnival Committee and a member of the Maldon Lions was determined for the event to continue and linked Maldon Lions with the Rotary Club of Maldon. A joint meeting of the two organisations took place on 14th March 2000 and it was agreed to stage the event on Boxing Day 2001 at Promenade Park.

The event continued from that year, growing in size and raising an ever-increasing amount of money for charities and good causes; the Mud Race in December 2005 raised in excess of £27,000.

In January 2009, the event raised over a massive £54,000 for various good causes.

The second Mud Race for 2009, will take place on Sunday 27th December, at 13:00pm, it will be sponsored by ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL, REDROW HOMES, and WILKIN & SONS LTD (Tiptree Preserves).

- Please note that all entries for December 2009 are now closed -
Maldon Mud Race is a charitable event organised by the International Rotary Club of Maldon and supported by Maldon District Council, and sponsored by ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL, with REDROW HOMES and WILKIN & SONS as corporate partners.

For further information please contact:

Brian Farrington (Publicity Director)
Tel: 01621 856376
Mobile: 07939 255169
Email: b_farrington@sky.com

Michael Ballard (Event Secretary)
Tel: 01621 891105
Mobile: 07821 803323
Email: MikeatGtTotham@aol.com

Allan Wiseman (Chairman, Mud Race Committee)
Tel: 01621 853662
Mobile: 07885 776586
Email: aawiseman@tiscali.co.uk

Brian Armstrong (Mud Race Treasurer)
Tel: 01376 567434
Mobile: 07725 595582
Email: brian-armstrong@hotmail.co.uk