Stalwart takes on 50th tin bath championship race

Dave Kelly's tub was named as the best dressed bath in the 2024 contest

A stalwart competitor in the World Tin Bath Championships has his decorated tub ready to take part in the "real slapstick fun" of the event for the 50th time.

The races, which began on the Isle of Man in 1971, see entrants paddle for glory across the 350-yard (400m) course in solo classes and snake races in Castletown Harbour.

Dave Kelly, who constructs his topically themed designs using cardboard and canes, said he took on the challenge each year as "life is too serious".

The annual event was postponed in June after event organisers, the Castletown Ale Drinkers Society (Cads), were unable to secure the cover needed to meet the event's health and safety requirements.

Mr Kelly's 50th design has been inspired by government plans to lower speed limits

Mr Kelly's 2025 design has been inspired by controversial plans to lower speed limits in some residential areas alongside changes to a bus route to the south.

He said he had his first run out in 1976 in an old farmers tin bath that leaked and had holes patched up with fiberglass.

But while some struggle to stay afloat, the seasoned competitor has only capsized once in 1986.

"I was in a Manx cottage with a real thatched roof, the wind took me and over I went, he said.

"That's the only time I've ever sunk, every other time I've finished."

However, he said winning the race had never been his ambition as "whoever comes in last gets more credit".

Dave Kelly has only sunk once in his years of competing with his Manx cottage design

Over the years his decorations have included the Laxey Wheel, Tynwald Hill and the trains from the island's steam railway.

Having picked up the best dressed award multiple times, he said: "I'm not a winning person, I take part to have fun and make people laugh."

He also said he believed in where the money raised by the organisers was "going to" as it was "to real people and good causes".

The event has raised more than £200,000 for local charities and individuals since first being held in 1971.

The annual event had been scheduled to take place in June

Boris Kitching from Cads said it was a "great relief" the weather conditions for the rescheduled event had allowed for it to go ahead.

He said the weather forecast was for sunshine and showers which meant "everyone coming will probably get wet, just some more than others", but the harbour would be sheltered from the winds.

But there was "no way we could go about postponing the show two times in a row", he added.

The snake race sees teams of six compete

The spectacle also includes a snake race challenge, which sees teams of six work together to navigate the course, and the "man powered flight attempt" contest which will include a group inspired by the RAF Red Arrows, called the Red Sparrows, representing charity Heroes on the Water.

The championships get underway at 14:30 BST on Saturday.