Soapbox derby teams go for gold

Edengrove youth club are announced as the Overall Winner earning the prize of a 12-seater minibus worth over £25,000, from world record holder and racing legend Guy Martin after cruising home to victory at the inaugural TrustFord Soap Box Derby at this years Hillsborough International Oyster Festival

The event saw 38 teams get behind the wheel and put their soap boxes to the test for a chance to win one of five fantastic prizes on offer, including a 12-seater minibus worth over £25,000.

Visitors flocked to the starting line to see the teams show off their prized soap box creations, all built from scratch with assistance from TrustFord technicians who held drop in advice sessions in the month leading up to the event.

Watched by Guy Martin and a team of judges which included representatives from TrustFord, CYP and the Hillsborough Oyster Festival, the budding racers showed-off their vehicles, with some even racing around the course for the coveted title of Race Winner.

World record holder and racing legend Guy Martin and representatives from TrustFord, Clubs for Young People (CYP) and Hillsborough International Oyster Festival get the judging underway at the inaugural TrustFord Soap Box Derby.

After close competition, the Bleary Young Farmers team was named the Race Winner, Mill Strand primary school were named winners for Best Innovation/Entertainment, Share village centre for Best Design and St Bernard’s primary school for Best Technical Effort, each scooping £500. The Best Overall Team prize was presented by Guy Martin to the Edengrove youth club team who received the much sought after 12-seater minibus worth over £25,000.

World class racer Guy Martin, who was part of the judging panel said “We had such a mega day at the TrustFord Soap Box Derby. It’s been great seeing some very talented youngster’s showing off their creations and trying their hand at racing down the Hillsborough Oyster Festival track. Congratulations to all who bagged a prize, there were so many cracking soap boxes, choosing the winners was tough!”

Don Spence, Chairman, Hillsborough International Oyster Festival said: “The TrustFord Soap Box Derby has helped to make this year’s Hillsborough Oyster Festival even bigger and better than ever before. We’re delighted Guy Martin was able to join us at the event and it was great seeing the entrant’s hard work pay off with some truly innovative soap boxes going down the track.”