01745 339003
info@charitydragonboatfestivals.org.uk
About - Charity Dragon Boat Festivals
Charity Dragon Boat Festivals was started in 2004 by Julian Thursfield, an ex-forces water sports instructor after realising that the majority of the charity dragon boat fund raising events then being run, were closed events for the benefit of those charities who had the staff and resources to organise their own in-house event.
Wanting to bring the fund raising power of a successful event to all registered charities large and small, he used his knowledge of dragon boat racing and event organisation to set up Charity Dragon Boat Festivals, with the very simple message to the charities "We will organise the event, you just recruit the teams."
The first event was in Chester, where nine teams entered to support seven different charities and over the years, more events and venues were added. To date, 143 charities have been supported and over £533,000 raised.
Where it all began:
The winners of the 2004 Chester Dragon Boat Festival "Courageous Charming Chappies" with event organiser, Julian Thursfield (bottom left).
The Courageous Charming Chappies were raising money for what is now, The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.
What each event entails
Teams race in genuine Chinese dragon boats that have been especially imported from China and provided by, the UK's leading professional dragon boat event's company "Race The Dragon Ltd."
A dragon boat team is made up of up to seventeen team members (sixteen paddlers and a team drummer). Before each team's first race, everyone will be given a full safety briefing and also instruction on the technique used. Teams will then compete in three timed qualifying races during the event, where their single fastest time only will count for Grand Final qualification.
Team work is vital if a fast time is going to be achieved and for this reason, the instructors will also give further 'on the water' training to help with technique. Over the distance we race (200 meters), fitness is not a key factor - technique however is because it's a team sprint where team work and timing is everything.
What you will be aiming to achieve is an opportunity to compete in the last race of the day ... the Grand Final. This will be a race where all the dragon boats that can be safely raced together will race one last time and first across the finish line will be declared:
Dragon Boat Champions of the event
The event will finish with our award ceremony where team trophies will be awarded to the Captain's of the top three teams and Winner's Medals to each member of the winning team.
Do
you have what it takes ... to Race The Dragon?
