Call for sponsors for annual Dragon Boat Races at Wykeham Lakes

A plea has gone out to help the paddlers raise pounds!
Dragon Boat Races, 2015Dragon Boat Races, 2015
Dragon Boat Races, 2015

The Rotary Club of Scarborough Cavaliers has sent out an appeal to local companies and organisations willing to sponsor a dragon boat in the annual Dragon Boat Races.

This year the event takes place at Wykeham Lakes on Sunday June 12 and will be the sixth time the club has organised its annual fund-raiser.

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Club President Jim Martin said: “As well as raising money for local charities, the dragon boat event is a fun family day-out in a glorious setting.”

“Last year 23 dragon boats entered the event and we raised around £8,000 for local charities but we are aiming for 30 dragon boats this year,” he added.

It costs £380 to sponsor a dragon boat, with the money going to cover the cost of staging the event.

The money for local charities comes from paddlers collecting individual sponsorship, which last year saw 13 local charities receive much needed funds.

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In turn, this money is split 50/50 between charities nominated by Rotary and a charity nominated by the team sponsor.

Each dragon boat is crewed by 16 paddlers, plus a drummer, and they race over a 250-yard course in a series of heats with the fastest teams in a final race-off – won last year by a team from the William Hare Group.

Team members both male and female must be over 12 years old and able to swim 50 metres wearing a life jacket that is provided by the race organisers.

A professional helmsman completes the crew of each boat and there are safety boats on 
patrol the whole day.

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There is entertainment by way of bouncy castles, face painting, juggling and magic for the younger ones.

A good range of refreshments and a bar are available to help the paddlers and spectators enjoy their day.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a dragon boat should contact Lyndsay Chamberlain on telephone 01723 870130 or email her on [email protected]

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For further information or to set up interviews please contact Mike Wilkinson on tel : 01723 870670 or mobile 07918 714879 or email : [email protected]

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