THE boat pull along the Chesterfield Canal got off to a good start on Saturday with the first group pulling the boat from its start at Shireoaks for two miles to the Priory Centre at Worksop.
Dawn Rose's epic journey from Shireoaks to the Trent and back had the first group the Friends of Woodlands and Coachwood Green, plus a couple of volunteers from McDonald's, pulling the 70ft long, hand-built, wooden narrowboat.
Long term supporter
They brought lots of supporters, many carrying collection buckets. The first two volunteers to be put into the harnesses were Cllr Sybil Fielding (right in the picture) and her daughter. Cllr Fielding is a very long-term supporter of the New Dawn Project.
The boat pull is being organised by the Friends of Dawn Rose. The journey has been split up into 20 sections which vary from less than one mile to four miles and with no locks to eight locks. Groups have chosen which section suits them best—on which day and at what time of day. It will finish on June 18th.
Chosen good cause
Every group has paid a £50 fee to the Friends of Dawn Rose and everything else that they raise goes to their chosen good cause.
Pulling a 10 tons boat might sound impossible. In fact it is surprisingly easy. The Friends supply harnesses with which two people can pull Dawn Rose very comfortably. The Friends steer and manage the boat, but the groups can help, under supervision.
If you missed out this year, look out for a repeat next year.
Unique design
Chesterfield Canal boats were built to a unique design dating back to the 1770s. They scarcely changed in 150 years. All the old ones have rotted away, so Dawn Rose is the only one in existence. It is 70ft long with no engine and was built over the course of four years by volunteers from the Chesterfield Canal Trust to the traditional design, using hand tools only, and was launched last year.