NEWS COPY
An annual Cambridge boat race was brought to a halt after a hammer-wielding man used his boat to block the river in an alleged bid to protect swans.
The man, whose identity is not known, was arrested after causing the Cambridge Christmas Head Race to be delayed by nearly an hour.
Race marshals said the "serial offender" often spreads food for birds along the banks of the river and in the water ahead of races to try and coax them over.
He could be heard shouting about wanting to "protect the swans and ducks" and claimed the rowers would just smash into the birds during the race on Saturday.
One male race marshal, who did not want to be named, said: "He's a serial offender. He disrupts races all the time.
"He's one of those people who doesn't like anyone to have any fun.
"I could hear him shouting as he basically puts lots of food down for the swans to bring the swans out in front of the boats, which quite frankly is appalling.
"It is supposed to just be a fun race. There is lots of kids here getting excited about it and they all had to sit and wait in the freezing cold."
Bird seed could be seen along the banks of the River Cam in Cambridge, Cambs., on Saturday afternoon as masses of swans took to the river.
The Christmas Head Race is hosted by the City of Cambridge Rowing Club and is an annual event where those taking part could be seen in Christmas fancy dress.
It was made up of separate four divisions but one had to be cancelled due to the man wielding the yellow hammer.
The race marshal added: "We had to cancel a division and there were probably 50 boats in that division so there were quite a lot of people affected.
"We were sat here for about half an hour before we decided to cancel that division as he just plonked himself in the middle of the river and refused to do anything."
Cambridgeshire police were called at around 12pm to reports of a man blocking the river with his boat in a bid to try and stop a race which began at 10am.
Officers then turned up and could be seen on-board the red boat as one officer removed the hammer.
He was arrested on suspicion of assault following the incident but police would not confirm the age of the man nor whether he is from the local area.
Spectator Martin Webb, 52, said he could hear the male claiming the rowers weren't supposed to be there and that the swans should be protected from them.
The Cambridge resident said: "There was a huge stand off with 50 crews all waiting there while this bloke caused a scene.
"The marshals tried to keep his boat to the side of the river but he got a hammer out and was threatening them with it.
"It was something to do with swans and ducks and wanting to protect them from the rowers.
"I saw the police then take him away but it went on for quite a long time and everyone was just waiting around."
After the man was removed the race continued as normal where prizes were given out at the end to the winners and those who wore the best fancy dress.
A police spokesman told the News : "We were called at 12.03pm on Saturday to reports of a man blocking the river with his boat in a bid to try and stop a race.
"Another male is believed to have asked the man to move his boat. It is then alleged that there was some sort of assault."
ENDS
