VIDEO: At the Shopping Trolley Grand Prix, County Councillor Jonathan Hawkins admits giving the manager of the Dartmouth Visitor Centre, Karen Perrow, a soaking. “I enjoyed it and will get her in 2018 again”, said Cllr Hawkins.

Both senior and junior trolley grand prix were of the same format. A trolley was to be pushed twice down and up the course. In the trolley was a fuel bucket, which must always contain fuel (water) or its driver must stop. The second team member, deemed a mechanic, was to refuel the trolley by using another bucket and going to the refuelling pond, some 25 yards away from the start, for fuel to start and keep the trolley moving. Both buckets had holes in their bottoms.

The mechanics started from the ‘turnaround’ at the bottom of the first 100 yards and ran past the start to the pond to fill their buckets and back to the start, where the trolleys were waiting, empty of fuel, to be pushed by their drivers.

The winner of the first junior heat was a somewhat reluctant competitor, he was heard to shout “What?” in response to Jonathan Hawkins issuance: “You must complete the course twice to win.” However, this did not impact his performance as, with the help of his mechanic, they won first heat by half a lap despite water-bottle-assistance being provided to the second place finisher by BRNC Officer Cadets.

The second heat of the junior grand prix was won by a quarter of a lap margin and the third heat was won by default as only one entrant turned up.

The final of the junior grand prix saw some jostling for position at the start but the mechanics got cleanly away despite the hesitant: “Get Ready, clear the course, Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Set, Go!” from Jonathan Hawkins.

The mechanics dashed up the course, filled their buckets and 125 yards later, splashed what remained in their buckets into the trolleys’ fuel buckets. Two girl drivers led the single boy driver down the course and quickly established a quarter lap lead. However, the turnaround and heat impacted these female drivers as, by halfway through the race, Charlie driving and Katrina, mechanic, drew out a half lap lead, which they carried to the finish.