AN EASTER fundraising event took place in aid of the Will Mackaness Trust (WMT).

The Official Test Centre (OTC) based at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), held the Easter Bunny Run Giant Slalom for the first time.

Tris Best, director of the OTC said: “The event was pitched to us by friend and keen windsurfer, Danny Thomas, who wanted to instigate a waterborne Easter Egg hunt.

“It was a good excuse to mark the changing of the clocks and the start of the social season down at the centre and WPNSA. The fact that the forecast was so windy, it seemed perfect to combine the Easter egg hunt with a sail-away giant slalom format.

“This slalom format was suggested by long-time windsurfer Mark Matthews. He was introduced to the sport back in the 1980s by his father Brian Matthews, one of the first local windsurfing enthusiasts, for whom the legendary local race, the Harbour Dash was conceived to commemorate.

“With the two suggestions combined into one format and event, the inaugural Easter Bunny Run went ahead. The wind gusted over 40 knots and there were 20 competitors.

The overall winner was professional Ross Williams and second place went to Si Pettifer.

Talented Weymouth windsurfer Scotty Stallman took third place.

The event raised £200 for the WMT which will benefit many youngsters giving them the opportunity to experience watersports.

Best added: “Thanks to all the participants, to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre and PGL for loan of their rescue RIBs and most of all, to Mark Matthews and Danny Thomas for suggesting it in the first place."

“The appetite is certainly there, so we’ll aim to run some more giant slalom events throughout the season and raise yet more money for the Trust.”