THE contestants in the 51st Ropley Pram Race had to battle a strong gust or two as the Bank Holiday Monday weather turned blustery.

But everyone made it to the finish and the winners, Alfie Bougard and George Wickers, in their fantastic Star Wars-designed pram, completed the course in 15 minutes 52 seconds.

In fact it turned out to be an all-Star Wars battle as Harry and Peter Hailwood, with a pram decorated in the same theme, came second, with Ellis Alexander third.

This year’s renewal was also one of the most colourful with prams, or those riding in them, decorated with tyres, balloons and all manner of colourful regalia while depicting such things as a battleship, a cow, a marvellous dragonfly complete with a fairy trio, a camper van, an X-wing fighter plane, a Hans Solo Millennium Falcon, and a pram raced by two characters dressed as the 118 118 phone ad men.

Best of all, there were a lot of children taking part, which bodes well for the future of a race which began as a light-hearted suggestion in 1965 between Dick Newman, Bob and Les Etherington and Ted Fordred, the landlord, after an evening at The Anchor pub.

The annual race, which raises money for St Peter’s Church in Ropley, celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and continues to be a bank noliday highlight in the village calendar.

In addition to all the colourful costumes in the race, there was also a fancy dress competition won by Oliver Farrari and Serge Gabriel Wynne, again as Star Wars characters.

The day ended with a dog show with the four-legged contestants providing some laughs as well as applause if they won a prize.

Committee leader Tim Day said they had had, with more than 200 people, a “good turnout” for the race although numbers were slightly down on last year.

“I think the strong wind made the going slower as normally the contestants cover the course in 13 minutes,” he said.

“It was a great day and there were a lot of children entering this year, which is good, and I am grateful to all those who took part and who came to watch.”