On Sunday 7th September, Monmouth turned out to cheer on the 49th annual raft race. With record entries of over 100 rafts, this year's event is set to top the fundraising figures from past years. Last year the race raised £25,000, 75 per cent of which was donated to St David's Foundation Hospice Care and 25 per cent to other charities supported by Monmouth Rotary Club. This year St Davids are again the charity of choice. The 2014 raft race was sponsored by Mandarin Stone and DHL. Previously the car parking and stall income has gone towards paying for the services of SARA, St John's Ambulance and all the other necessary safety and support staff. This year those costs were covered by the sponsors so the total figure going to charity should be even higher than last year. Mostly this community event is about the taking part, but there is also keen competition to win the coveted accolades such as Fastest Raft and Most Creatively Themed Raft. Results so far for the 2014, 49th Monmouth Raft Race are: Men's 1st; 114, RJS Vehicle Repairs Ltd; 2nd, 115, The Morgan In and Outers. Women's 1st; Harrison Crewso; 2nd, 206, Girl Floaters. Mixed crew; 1st, 160, Light it Up (racing); 2nd, 201, Betty Swollocks. Best placed pub or club entry; 175, The Railway Children. Best placed business entry; 160, Light it Up (racing). Best placed building trades entry; 185, Hale & Co. no.1. Best placed financial business entry; 190, Sink To Glory. Best placed Rotary Club entry; 128, Marches Thunderbolt. Best placed DHL entry; 125, DHL We Knowhow To Paddle The entry handing in most sponsorship on the day was 129, Rowers Ark, £2,025. Most creatively themed raft, 138, Henson's Heroes. This year The Beacon Buccaneers shaved a whole hour off their time, coming in at a respectable 2 hours 19 seconds. The Beacon would like to thank Rob Escott from Country Contracts for his help transporting their raft, making it float and getting them on the river, "He's such a good bloke," said Suzy Mills from the Beacon, "He was there at the end of the race helping to pull the other rafts out of the water too." Final figures for the fundraising will be available after all the sponsorship money has been collected in October. Full listings of raft times and positions will shortly be available on http://www.rotaryraftrace.wordpress.com">www.rotaryraftrace.wordpress.com