Boat builder David Harrison’s spectacular boat at this year’s Matlock Bath Illuminations definitely has fairground attraction – and it’s won him a top prize.
David, from Ashbourne, created the pick of this year’s fantastic fleet – ‘Let’s Have A Cuppa’ based on a teacups fairground ride. The unique parade of 11 boats on the River Derwent is the highlight of the Illuminations every Saturday and Sunday through to 27 October.
Event organisers Derbyshire Dales District Council have already declared the first two Illuminations October Saturdays a sell-out, though tickets are currently available online for other Saturdays and Sunday nights.
Andrew and Vanessa Pugh of The Heights of Abraham presented prizes to the boat builders at Saturday's Illuminations after visitors to the event’s first weekend voted for their favourite craft.
‘Let’s Have A Cuppa’ will now have the honour of leading out the famous parade for the remainder of the 2024 Illuminations season. David (pictured below with Mr and Mrs Pugh) was presented with the Arkwright and Centenary Cups, plus £500.
Newcomers last year to the Matlock Bath Venetian Boat Builders' Association, Paul and Brandon Lil from Matlock (pictured below), were placed second with their boat, ‘Optimus Prime comes to Matlock Bath’. They win the Plumtree Cup and £450.
In third place with ‘The Shannon’, a depiction of an RNLI lifeboat, were last year’s winners the Motley Bunch – Pete Hartshorn, Christine Dence and Richard Wood from Matlock. The trio win the Sheffield Wire Rope Cup and a £430 cash prize.
The Dave Sanderson Trophy and £400 for fourth place went to stalwart boat builder Ian Page and the Cromford Crew with his model ‘Anniversary of Aviation’.
The Compere’s Award, presented by Geoff Stevens MBE, compering the event for a 56th year, went to the longest serving boat builder in the parade, David Gregory from Matlock, who is competing for a 53rd year. His model this year is ‘Heights of Abraham F1’, based on a champion powerboat once piloted by Rupert Pugh from the Heights.
It's a friendly competition, with all non-prize winners receiving £350.
Every boat features as many as 1,000 LED bulbs - and completing this year's spectacular parade are:
‘Big Wheel in the Sky’ by Rory Harrison of Ashbourne.
'Bath House’ by Flori Araya, Wade Crick and Ash Crick from Middleton by Wirksworth. 
'Heroes of the Sky’ by 12-year-old Taylor Hambleton-Harrison and Michael Hall from Ashbourne.
Paul Hensall with ‘Squid Games’, who is competing for a 49th year. The traditional candle boat, which goes out before the main parade and is constructed by all the boat builders to show how the models used to look a century ago, depicts the Heights of Abraham cable cars in their 40th anniversary year. It is lit with more than 100 night lights and rowed by Mary Chigodora. 
District Council Leader, Councillor Steve Flitter said:
"127 years after they were first staged, Matlock Bath Illuminations continue to be one of this region’s most popular autumn events, playing a crucial role for local businesses in extending the tourist season by attracting around 100,000 people to the Derbyshire Dales.
"Just as important is the fun the Illuminations bring to visitors thanks to the lights, the entertainment and the awe-inspiring decorated boats, which have been a constant feature down the years."
