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Historic Greasy Pole Challenge Returns To Whitby Regatta After Seventeen Years

Brave participants will attempt to run across a 37-foot suspended and greased pole to capture a flag as a traditional challenge returns to the Whitby Regatta this weekend.

The infamous greasy pole challenge will take place at the Whitby Regatta for the first time since 2009.

Competitors will run across the slippery structure, which hangs over the end of the pier, in an attempt to capture a flag at the far end.

Successful and unsuccessful challengers alike will be celebrated. A trophy awaits the ultimate winner, and bespoke wooden discs will be handed out to the first fifty people brave enough to take part.

Lindsay Close has helped organise the event and says the greasy pole hasn't been seen for a while:

"I think the last time was at 2009. It's been a good few years. It's taken some organizing this year, and to get it all up and running, but we've had a good group of people behind us and they've all pulled together and, yeah, managed to get it back.

It's 37 feet long and it suspended out over the end of the the pier. And yeah, covered in grease and off you go, run across it and try and get the flag at the end.

We've just got a trophy for the winner. And for the first 50 people who go onboard, my dad's made some little wooden discs that say I've tried the greasy pole."

Aquatic competitions and free entertainment will take over the town this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

More than one hundred and eighty years of history make the Whitby Regatta the oldest sea regatta on the northeast coast.

Rowing races will take centre stage throughout the weekend, featuring fierce competition between clubs from Scarborough and Whitby, alongside a series of yacht races.

A wide array of attractions will entertain visitors on dry land, including the Spit and Polish Classic Car Rally on the West Cliff and a motorcycle and quad bike gymkhana on the beach near Khyber Pass.

Decorated floats will make their way through the heart of the celebrations in a grand parade on Monday morning. Families will also enjoy a fun fair, a fun run, and interactive displays by the Whitby Falconers.

A spectacular fireworks display themed 'A Sky Full of Wonder' will light up Whitby Harbour to conclude the weekend on Monday night.

Public donations fund the entire event. Attendees will not pay an entrance fee, but organisers encourage contributions to help secure the festival's future.

Lindsay Close added:

"It's an absolutely fabulous weekend, it's probably one of the best weekends of the year, family, friends, loads of tourists, people all getting together.

And there's so much going on everywhere, the rowing, of course, is the main important thing between Scarborough and the Whitby clubs, and the yacht races are going on, there's floats around, we've got bikes and car displays, motorbikes on the beach, the fireworks, of course, on Monday night.

And it's just a a fabulous weekend, it really is. There's no entrance fee, but it would be great if people would put some donations towards it, if they could. It's just a fabulous weekend for everyone to get there."

Here is the full schedule of events taking place across the Whitby Regatta weekend. Please note that specific rowing race times and locations for individual stalls can also be found in the official printed Regatta Programme. There are more details at https://www.whitbyregatta.co.uk/events.html

Saturday Schedule

Time / Frequency Event Location / Details
07:30 Start Sandsend to Whitby Swim & Beach Hut Swim Starts Sandsend / Beach Huts, finishes on beach near Battery Parade (~08:00 finish)
12:30 - 16:15 Solar Viewing West Cliff (adjacent to mini Go-Karts, below paddling pool)
21:30 onwards Star Party West Cliff (rear of skate park on Pitch & Putt)
Throughout Day Whitby Falconers (Birds of Prey & Reptiles) West Cliff
Throughout Day The Slackline School Crescent Gardens, West Cliff
Throughout Day The "Amazing" Captain Kipper Puppet Show Royal Hotel Ballroom
Throughout Day Meet Dalek Panther West Cliff
Throughout Day Kids Fun (Trampolines, Bouncy Castle & Giant Slide) West Cliff / Event Grounds
Programmed Times Rowing Races Viewing from West Cliff and Harbour
Programmed Times Regatta Sail Past & Lifeboat Launch Whitby Bay
Programmed Times Robinson Cup Sailing Races Whitby Bay
Scheduled Feature Vintage Japanese Motor Cycle Club Rally West Cliff
Scheduled Feature Sea Shanty Group: "Whitby Tillermen Friends" Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Pick a Pen Stall Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Display Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Face Painting Event Grounds

Sunday Schedule

Time / Frequency Event Location / Details
10:00 Start Whitby Regatta Family Fun Run (2k & 4k) Crescent Gardens, West Cliff (Registration from 08:30)
10:00 Start Motor Cycle and Quad Bike Gymkhana Beach near Kyber Pass
11:00 onwards Spit and Polish Classic Car Rally West Cliff (Spa Green)
Post-Gymkhana Pump 'n' Jump Bike Track Jam West Cliff Bike Park
12:30 - 16:15 Solar Viewing West Cliff (adjacent to mini Go-Karts)
21:30 onwards Star Party West Cliff (rear of skate park on Pitch & Putt)
Throughout Day RPM Bicycle Stunt / Trials Display Show West Cliff
Throughout Day Whitby Falconers West Cliff
Throughout Day The "Amazing" Captain Kipper Puppet Show Royal Hotel Ballroom
Throughout Day Meet Dalek Panther West Cliff
Throughout Day Kids Fun (Trampolines, Bouncy Castle & Giant Slide) West Cliff / Event Grounds
Programmed Times Rowing Races Viewing from West Cliff and Harbour
Scheduled Feature Scrufts Dog Show Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Whitby Scooter Club Rally West Cliff
Scheduled Feature White Rose Capri Club Display West Cliff
Scheduled Feature Tuby's Vintage Commercial Vehicles Display Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Vintage & Post-War Motor Cycles Display Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Pick a Pen (Capt Cook Area) Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Display Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Face Painting Event Grounds

Monday Schedule

Time / Frequency Event Location / Details
10:00 onwards The Grand Parade (Walking Floats & Fancy Dress) Parade route through Whitby town centre
10:00 onwards Fun Fair Spectacular Pier Road & West Pier
13:00 - 16:00 Solar Viewing West Cliff (next to Grovers Optics stand)
21:45 Start Spectacular Fireworks Display ("A Sky Full of Wonder") Viewing from West Cliff & West Pier
Throughout Day RPM Bicycle Stunt / Trials Display Show West Cliff
Throughout Day Whitby Falconers West Cliff
Throughout Day The "Amazing" Captain Kipper Puppet Show Royal Hotel Ballroom
Throughout Day Meet Dalek Panther West Cliff
Throughout Day Kids Fun (Trampolines, Bouncy Castle & Giant Slide) West Cliff / Event Grounds
Programmed Times Rowing Races Viewing from West Cliff and Harbour
Scheduled Feature SUP Paddleboard Event Seafront / Harbour area
Scheduled Feature Fancy Dress Judging & Prize Giving Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Rowing Clubs Prize Giving Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Display Event Grounds
Scheduled Feature Face Painting Event Grounds

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