Flotilla Photographic Competition

Celebrating Goole’s Historic 200th Birthday

On Saturday 18 July, a flotilla of over thirty waterways’ vessels will navigate around Goole Docks, emulating what happened two hundred years earlier in 1826 at the opening of the Knottingley to Goole canal and the port and town of Goole. There will be a variety of craft in the flotilla – narrow boats, Dutch barges, cruisers, tugs, launches, commercial barges and RIBs – and we expect much waving of flags and sounding of horns to mark this historic occasion.

The public will be able to watch the flotilla from a number of locations around the docks and we hope that together we will create a memorable event which may never be seen again for another hundred years, if ever.

Locations of public viewpoints

1. Goole Marina and Spicers Auctioneers on Dutch River Side where the Flotilla will muster and disperse.
2. Goole Model Boat Club, by No 5 coal hoist on Dutch River Side.
3. By South Dock Bridge on Bridge Street.
4. On the public walkway bordering Goole Docks from Lowther Bridge to Victoria Lock.
5. By West Dock Bridge on Bridge Street.

Help us record history being made

The Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society (YWHS) collects and publishes historic photographs of what took place in Goole’s canal and docks when the waterways industry was thriving. Today there is only a fraction of the traffic that once plied up and down the canal but our docks, managed by ABP, remain a very important part of Goole’s and Yorkshire’s economy. We believe that the flotilla event will one day be regarded as an important piece of the history of Goole and we need your help to record in photographs and video what you saw happening on 17 – 18 July 2026. 

Our objective is to collect and publish online as much material as possible so that in the future, anyone will be able to look back at a vast collection of photographs and recordings to see who was there, what they saw and what they heard. Imagine in fifty years’ time showing your grandchildren a reel with you and your mates waving and cheering as the flotilla goes by in Goole docks.

Prizes

To make this challenge even more interesting we are going to award prizes for the very best entries submitted to YWHS. We have received donations from individuals and businesses who want to encourage Goole’s young folk to take an interest in the heritage of Goole, a very special town with a very special history. Your competition entries will provide the evidence which we will share with the world.

Our judges will have the unenviable task of picking the best entries and the very, very best entry will receive the top prize of £250 of Amazon vouchers. There will also be a number of further prizes for second and third places also in Amazon vouchers.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION

Eligibility:

Contestants must be aged 25 or under on Saturday 18 July 2026. 

If you are under 18 years of age, you must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to enter this competition.

Subject matter:

Entries should relate to the Goole Bicentenary Flotilla and associated events taking place on 17–18 July 2026 and your entries should therefore be taken on those dates.

Your entries:

Entries must be submitted by email to 2026photos@ywhs.org.uk by midnight on Saturday 18 July 2026.

We will accept up to three entries per person and photographs and/or videos are acceptable. File formats should be JPG, PNG or MP4. 

Ensure that each entry is on a separate email.

Prizes:

Prizes awarded will be in the form of Amazon vouchers. No cash equivalent will be awarded. 

Rights:

Copyright remains with the entrant.

By entering the competition, the entrant grants Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, publish and display submitted photographs and videos in connection with its charitable, educational, promotional and historical activities, including on its website, social media channels, publications and exhibitions. The entrant will be credited wherever reasonably practicable.

Permission from People Featured

Entrants are responsible for obtaining any permissions required from people appearing in their photographs or videos.

Judging:

Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by YWHS. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

AI-generated Content:

Entries must be original photographs or videos taken by the entrant. AI-generated images are not permitted.

Liability:

YWHS accepts no responsibility for lost, delayed, corrupted or incomplete entries.

Data Protection:

Personal information supplied for the competition will be used solely for administering the competition and related publicity.