MONMOUTH’S popular Raft Race has been cancelled after organisers said exceptionally low water levels on the River Wye mean the event cannot be delivered safely.

The race was due to take place on Sunday, September 6, but organisers have taken the decision to cancel following discussions with event partners, safety teams and relevant authorities.

A spokesperson for the Monmouth Raft Race said the decision had been made with “great disappointment”.

They said: “Following extensive discussions with event partners, safety teams, and relevant authorities, as it has been determined that the event cannot be delivered safely due to current conditions and exceptionally low water levels in the River Wye.”

They added that cancellation was “the most responsible decision in the best interests of participant and public safety and the protection of the river and its sensitive habitat and wildlife”.

The annual event is organised by St David’s Hospice Care, Monmouth Rotary Club and the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) and has become a firm favourite in the Monmouth calendar.

Teams traditionally build and decorate their own rafts before taking to the River Wye for the six-and-a-half-mile journey from Monmouth Rowing Club to the finish at Whitebrook.

The event attracts competitors and spectators from across the area and raises significant amounts for charity.

However, the race has always been at the mercy of conditions on the Wye, and this is not the first time organisers have had to cancel.

The race has been cancelled four times previously since it began in 1965.

In 2001, the Foot and Mouth outbreak forced the event to be called off. Flooding on the River Wye resulted in another cancellation in 2008, while the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the race from taking place in 2020.

The most recent cancellation was in 2022, when low river levels made conditions unsuitable.

While high river levels can create strong currents and dangerous conditions, exceptionally low levels bring their own hazards. Shallow water can expose rocks and other obstacles, making it more difficult for rafts to navigate the course and potentially increasing the risks for competitors and the rescue teams supporting the event.

Organisers have specifically highlighted the need to protect the Wye and its “sensitive habitat and wildlife”, adding another factor to the decision beyond the immediate safety of competitors.

The cancellation will come as a major disappointment to the teams who had already been preparing rafts, costumes and fundraising campaigns for this year’s event.

It will also mean the loss of another important fundraising opportunity for the charities involved.

Since Monmouth Rotary took over responsibility for organising the race in 2004, the event has raised more than £400,000 for good causes, according to the race’s official history.

SARA’s involvement is particularly important on race day, providing specialist safety and rescue support along the river.

Despite the disappointment, organisers say the decision has been taken responsibly, with the safety of participants and the public, as well as the protection of the river, taking priority.