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Couple win prize for 'unique' theme park design

Inspiring Heritage Richard and Amy Hale smiling while holding the cheque for $25,000, which they won for designing the theme park ride Portal Riders.Inspiring Heritage
Portal Riders beat off competition from more than 30 countries to win a £20,000 prize in the Storyland Studios challenge

A couple have said they are still "in disbelief" after winning a competition for designing a "unique" theme park ride.

Richard and Amy Hale, who live near Weymouth, Dorset, said that after seeing other submissions, they had almost withdrawn their entry from the challenge by the firm Storyland Studios.

But Portal Riders, which envisions a dark water ride through fantasy worlds, beat off competition from more than 30 countries to win a £20,000 prize.

Mr Hale said they decided to enter the competition after he recovered from bowel cancel treatment.

Dorset couple win thousands in theme park competition

"We just thought 'We've got nothing to lose, let's just go for it'," his wife said.

Mr Hale said he had decided to "come out fighting".

He said: "We tackle every day as it comes and we don't shy away form any challenges."

Inspiring Heritage An example image of the winning ride in a fantasy underwater world. The design features a cave-looking ceiling with crystals hanging from it, blue-green waters and a wooden building with a wavy rooftop. Silhouettes of people are positioned across it to recreate what the experience for riders would be like.Inspiring Heritage
Mr Hale said the boats in Portal Riders stood still, allowing the fantasy world to come to the riders

The couple received the news weeks after they had heard they had made the top 10.

"It was one of those most surreal moments, where we were both screaming and doing a happy dance around the bedroom," Mrs Hale said.

"When we looked at the quality of the other submissions, I honestly didn't think we stood a chance, I tried to withdraw it."

But Portal Riders emerged as the winner and they were flown to Florida to collect the award.

Mr Hale described it as "an indoor dark boat ride", developed using the latest filming technology.

He said: "For most boat rides in Disney or Universal, you get a small boat and you travel around to the world you're seeing.

"This is quite different - the boat stays still and the world comes to you."

Inspiring Heritage One of Mr Hale's projects – a Flintstones-themed Christmas displayInspiring Heritage
Mr Hale has been involved in creative projects for years, including Christmas grottos

One of the Storyland founders told them that it "stood out straightaway".

"It was so unique, there was nothing else like it," Mrs Hale said, referring to the feedback.

Her husband said he had always been creative, having been part of building Christmas grottos, designing Sea Life Centres and painting murals.

He now designs exhibits for the Tank Museum in Bovington through his company Inspiring Heritage.

"I've had some amazing projects but nothing to this level," he said.

Inspiring Heritage Mr Hale in hospital with two nurses beside him, while he was recovering from bowel cancer. He is smiling and giving two thumbs up for the camera. He is dressed as a Jedi and one of the nurses is holding a baby Yoda hot water bottle. Inspiring Heritage
The couple decided to enter the competition after Mr Hale recovered from bowel cancel treatment

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