The City of Wells Lions held a well-attended presentation evening on 13th October at Wells Football Club, following the success of the annual Moat Boat Race, which took place on August Bank Holiday Monday.

The event brought together winners, participants, and supporters to celebrate the race, which saw one of its biggest turnouts in recent years thanks to the perfect weather conditions.

The awards night was an opportunity for all those involved to reflect on the success of this year's race, as trophies and certificates were handed out to the best teams.

The Mayor of Wells, Councillor Jasmine Browne, was in attendance, showing support for the event, and posed with members of the 'Pirates of the Full Moon' team, who continued their dominance in the competition by scooping up several trophies.

The creative rafts were a key highlight of the races. The 'Thomas the Tank' raft, created by the Likely Lads team, won the Best Raft award in the senior category, earning praise for its impressive design and teamwork. In the junior section, the Wells and Glastonbury Young Farmers Club's 'Floating Bull Calves' took the top award, demonstrating the enthusiasm and creativity of younger participants.

The Mayor, who even joined a team on the day of the race, expressed his gratitude to the City of Wells Lions for organising the event, as well as to the many local businesses that sponsored the race, the water safety team, and St John's Ambulance for providing first aid support. He said: "It's fantastic to see the Moat Boat Race go from strength to strength each year. The community spirit on show is what makes this event so special. I'm already looking forward to next year!"

The Moat Boat Race, held annually at Wells Cathedral's historic moat, is one of the city's most beloved traditions. Teams from across the region come together to compete in races using handmade rafts, with categories for both junior and senior participants. This year's event drew one of the largest crowds in recent memory, with spectators lining the moat to cheer on the teams as they battled it out on the water.

The presentation evening ended with excitement building for next year's event, with many teams already planning their rafts and hoping to challenge the reigning champions.