Towpath Talk

Pull a replica cuckoo boat and raise funds

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THE Friends of Dawn Rose are once again organising boat pulls so that groups or organisati­ons can raise funds in a unique way.

In past years, dozens of different organisati­ons have raisedmany thousands of pounds for their own good causes. Many groups return every year. Even Matt Baker hadagowhen filming for Countryfil­e!

The idea is very simple. You get your group together and book a date. You pay the Friends of Dawn Rose £50 and then raise as much as you can for your cause through sponsorshi­p. Several groups have raised four-figure sums.

There are dates available in April and May. For full details search for Chesterfie­ld Canal Trust. To book or for further iinformati­on, please email ddawnrose@ chester fieldccana­l- trust. org. uk or ring 007972 287793.

Dawn Rose weighs about 10 ttons, soit sounds impossible to ppull it. In fact, it is surprising­ly eeasy. There is a special harness wwhich means that two people ccan comfortabl­y pull the boat. PPairs usually pull for about half a mile before swapping to the nnext pair, but somedomuch less wwhile others do several miles.

The course is two miles fromf Shireoaks to Worksop or the return journey. It will take between two and three hours.

The Dawn Rose crew will look after everything­and will ensure that you will be safe and have an enjoyable time.

Dawn Rose is a replica cuckooboat – unique to the Chester field Canal. It was built using hand tools only by a group of volunteers because all the old working boats had rotted away.

It is moored at ShireoaksM­arina and does demonstrat­ion horse boating, pulled by Charlie the horse, on some summer Sundays from the Lock Keeper pub inWorksop.

The Friends of Dawn Rose look after the boat. They are part of the Chesterfie­ld Canal Trust which is campaignin­g to get the canal fully restored by 2027, which is the 250th anniversar­y of its opening.

 ?? PHOTOS: CHESTERFIE­LD CANAL TRUST ?? A special harness means two people can comfortabl­y pull the boat.
PHOTOS: CHESTERFIE­LD CANAL TRUST A special harness means two people can comfortabl­y pull the boat.
 ?? ?? Dawn Rose being bow hauled along the Chesterfie­ld Canal.
Dawn Rose being bow hauled along the Chesterfie­ld Canal.

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