45th Blackwood 250 race brings power dinghies through Bridgetown

The Blackwood Classic 250 took place over the weekend, with 25 boats participating in the three-day race.

Crowds and competitors with dinghies gathered at Blackwood River Park in Bridgetown to start the race before the boats took off down the Blackwood river.

The time trial race started in Bridgetown on Saturday and finished at Jalbarragup Bridge near Sturke Creek on Monday.

Micheal Prose and Andrew Hall, the team for Boat 007, won the race, with a total time of 5 hours, 28 minutes and 48 seconds.

Fourteen boats made it to the finishing point of the race, with 11 being unable to make the cut-off time of the first day.

The Blackwood Classic 250 is known as the longest white water power dinghy race in the world, with the race taking place over 250km through Bridgetown, Nannup and Augusta.

David McConkey, a competitor at the race, says the significance in the race is due to the age of the race and the distance competitors have to go as well.

“The race is unique in how long it goes for and how far the distance is for a power dinghy race.”

This year marks the 45th year since the start of the Blackwood 250.

Mr McConkey says the weather conditions were perfect for the race over the three days.

“The Blackwood 250 was run with great success with great water levels and even better weather.”