AFTER ten years, there will be no Whacky Races in East Allington this year, after the previous committee couldn’t find anybody to continue organising the popular event.

East Allington Whacky Races started in 2005, and has seen people travelling from as far away as Derby and Northamptonshire to race their homemade karts.

Mike Derry, who had been one of the organisers since 2006 explained: ‘In November, we held a meeting at the Fortescue Arms, with Liz Matthews, myself and various committee members.

‘We tried to generate some enthusiasm for other people to take over the organisation, but this hasn’t happened - unless it’s all happening in secret!

‘People are very busy and it’s hard to find people in the community with the spare time to commit.’

Liz Matthews, former treasurer explained: ‘I’d been involved in organising the event since 2005, but I don’t live in the village anymore, so felt it was right to stand down.’

‘The main problem was with the insurance - we used to organise the insurance through the school, but they won’t cover us for this year’s event.

‘But there are other options available out there for anyone willing to put the time in.’

Mike continued: ‘This has nothing to do with the accident last year, when the driver of the Thomas the Tank Engine kart crashed and had to be flown to hospital by the Devon Air Ambulance, suffering concussion and a broken rib.’

Mike explained the idea for the races came from a desire in the village to start a community event, raise some money for local charities and put East Allington on the map.

When ideas were being discussed, the steep hill through the village seemed to make it the ideal location for some sort of race.

Over ten years, the Whacky Races have raised more than £30,000 for dozens of charities, including the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, East Allington Primary School, the local football team, the Coleridge bus, East Allington Church and pensioners’ groups in the village.

Liz added: ‘Maybe next year it can continue, it’s just a case of finding insurance and the rest will fall into place. I have mountains of information, should anyone be interested in taking over.

‘I’m hopeful that the event will be back in future years.’

Mike added: ‘It’s quite a unique event, maybe it’s just a case of taking a year off and then it’ll be back in 2017.’