Harrow Firefighters win reintroduced Outhouse Races during 171st Harrow Fair

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative

This year, the Harrow Fair Board brought back a classic to the 171st annual four-day festival line-up, long missed by many community members.

  On Sunday, four teams lined up to take part in the reintroduced Outhouse Races, which required participants to create an outhouse-themed racer, powered by a team of runners and steered by a driver inside.

  Emma Denotter, A Director on the Harrow Fair Board, noted this event was an annual tradition, but got sidelined around 2003. There was interest in the community to bring it back, so the Harrow Fair Board added it back onto the event roster as part of this year’s festivities.

  Four entries took part: the Harrow Firefighters, the Harrow Feed Store Flushers, the Latrine Queen, and the Poop Coop, each entering the show ring with impressively designed outhouse racers, created to embody their team theme.

  For instance, the Harrow Fire racer showcased a working emergency light, and the Poop Coop was equipped with a rooster-themed weathervane and was pushed by a team wearing chicken-themed costumes.

  Sticking to the outhouse theme, Denotter used a toilet seat for the coin toss, determining which team would use which lane in each of the heats.

  In the race, the teams had to race down to the end of the course, circle a cone, push their way through a muddied area while steerring clear of strawbale obstacles, before crossing the finish line. All of this was done as a large crowd hooted, hollered, and cheered on their favourite entry.

  Ultimately, after several heats, the Harrow Firefighters earned top spot, which came with bragging rights for the next year, a plaque and ribbon, and a brand-new toilet scrub brush for each team member to take home.

  Each team paid a $50 entrance fee to participate. All of the funds were collected and presented to the winning team, which was then able to pick a non-profit to donate to. The Harrow Firefighters chose to support the local burn unit with its $200 winnings. The Latrine Queen team came in second, with the two other entrants experiencing some mechanical issues.

  Firefighter Kevin Mutterback, speaking on behalf of his team, was pleased to earn top spot. He joked there was a lot of pressure to do well from fellow Firefighters leading up to the race, all in good fun.

  Before the hiatus, the Harrow Firefighters often won the race, but Mutterback recalls an Atlas Tube team claiming the championship the last two-years it ran before the hiatus. There was a desire to bring the championship back to the Harrow Fire Hall upon the race’s return.     

  The Firefighters were pleased to make the donation to the burn unit, with Mutterback noting they are always finding ways to give back to the community. For instance, Essex Fire & Rescue was onsite over the course of the fair to provide first aid, if needed.

  “We want to give back,” he said.  

  Denotter was pleased with the outcome of the Outhouse Races, but would have liked to see more entries. She encourages community members to get working and thinking on their racers for next year, as the Harrow Fair intends to host it again.