Longridge Soap Box Derby 2025

Berry Lane in Longridge will be transformed once again on Sunday 14th September for the fourth running of the town’s annual Soap Box Derby.

The event is now firmly established in the town’s calendar and thousands of spectators are once again expected to line the route to see karts whizz down Longridge’s main shopping street at speed.

Launched from an elevated start ramp, the teams will have to negotiate four jumps before the finish line, propelled only by gravity, daredevil driving, brilliant engineering and sleek aerodynamics (OK, the last two are made up!).

The fun-filled, family-oriented event chimes with the fantastic community spirit in Longridge. In addition to the racing there will be street stalls, a food plaza and children’s area.

One of the major elements of the day is the contribution to charity raised from corporate sponsorship, kart fees and pitch fees.

Event organiser Gary Ward from Love Longridge notes: “Local businesses have supported this initiative since day one. In the last three years over £57,000 has been raised for local charities. That would simply not be possible without the generous backing of the town’s businesses.”

This year Raymond James, Ribble Valley and SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd will be joint headline sponsors, highlighting the event’s attractiveness for sponsors and how popular the Soap Box Derby has become in such a short space of time.

Wealth management company Raymond James, Ribble Valley will be a headline sponsor for a fourth time. Branch Principal Wayne Hayhurst said: “When the Love Longridge business group approached Raymond James, Ribble Valley in 2022 enquiring if it would become headline sponsor of the town’s inaugural Soap Box Derby I agreed without hesitation. This is the fourth running of the race day and I am delighted that we are headline sponsors once again.

“Longridge has so much more than just great homes. There are wonderful independent retailers, bars, restaurants and professional services companies, all providing first class customer service. The Soap Box Derby gives Longridge the opportunity to say to its residents and visitors, old and new, it’s not just a great place to live but has a real sense of community and purpose.”

This year, James Hall & Co Ltd, SPAR North of England’s primary retailer, wholesaler and distributor, will join Raymond James as joint headline sponsors.

Niels Dekkers, Marketing and IT Director, commented: “We are delighted to elevate the SPAR brand to be joint headline sponsor of the Longridge Soap Box Derby. Each year we have supported the Longridge Soap Box Derby we have increased our level of sponsorship as we value the effort that the team at Love Longridge put in to deliver a fantastic community event that thousands of people enjoy.

“SPAR stores are at the centre of the communities they serve, and from a James Hall & Co. Ltd perspective, we are a large local employer. Many of our colleagues at our SPAR Distribution Centre in Preston live in and around the Longridge area, so the event is a perfect fit for us.”

St Catherine’s Hospice is once again the race’s chosen charity partner. Funds raised from Soap Box Derby will go to support the vital work it does in the heart of our community.