speaking as someone who entered the very first Crafty **ft race in 196*........objections were raised by D.I.Y. enthusiasts,who built rafts of sorts,but were well beaten in the race by professional looking,much more expensive "boats"....so rules were made the following year and I think Judges were called on to see fair play........?
"The Newbury Crafty Craft Race began in 1974 A Carnival run by Newbury Round Table in the late 1950s featured a Raft Race, but when Laurie Birch ran the first event as we know it today, it was thought that the word 'raft' sounded a bit unsafe, so he christened it 'The Crafty Craft Race'."
"The Newbury Crafty Craft Race began in 1974 A Carnival run by Newbury Round Table in the late 1950s featured a Raft Race, but when Laurie Birch ran the first event as we know it today, it was thought that the word 'raft' sounded a bit unsafe, so he christened it 'The Crafty Craft Race'."