Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge 2017

On behalf of all of the members of the organising committee of the Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge, a big thank you to everyone who took part on Saturday and made the 9^th year of this event the most successful yet. 

More people, more teams and hopefully more charitable donations than ever before. The total raised over the 9 years that the event has been running will pass the £250,000 mark this year and every penny of that has gone to the benefit of the charities nominated by the participants and supported by the two Rotary Clubs who’s members efforts have made the event possible. The Rotary Club of Wakefield Chantry and the Rotary Club of Huddersfield are rightly proud of the success of this fantastic event. 

Thanks are also due to the staff at Pugneys, who provided both the safety boats and the on-site logistical help. Without their cooperation and help the day would simply not be possible. Also a great big thanks to Gable Events who provided the boats and the personnel to make the racing run like clockwork. I am sure everyone will appreciate that getting 39 heats run, on time and with nearly 800 paddlers is no mean feat. They were right on time including the 2 finals. Special thanks also to Sam Lambert, our charity organiser and Emmie Johnson our Social Media expert – lots of innovations from them this year not least of which was the broadcast of the finals live on Facebook!!! 

So congratulations to everyone who took part, and obtained sponsorship for their chosen charities. Also congratulations to the teams that made the 2 finals. The 4 boat mixed final and the 6 boat Grand Final were stunning spectacles enjoyed by all who saw them. The team from Adleshaw Goddard won the mixed final and Team GME narrowly beat the Musical Mariners and Stuarts Big Kiss to be the overall winners. They take home the Stuart Wardell Memorial Trophy to keep for one year. 

This year we had to turn away 4 or 5 teams who wanted to enter because we were simply full. The situation next year is still not finally decided, but will probably stay at the 39 team level, which is the most that can be accommodated with 6 boats. The logistical challenge of increasing the number of teams is significant and therefore may not be an option. So we will be opening the entry for next year around the end of December/beginning of January 2018. 

Next year’s event has already been fixed for Saturday 7^th July 2018 – so make sure you have the date in your diaries and get your entries in early. 

Once again, from all of the organising committee, thank you for taking part and making this event the most successful so far.

THE WINNING PRIZE NUMBERS FOR THE PROGRAMME DRAW THIS YEAR WERE

1^ST PRIZE - A YEARS MEMBERSHIP AT THE PRESTIGIOUS IVERIDGE HEALTH CLUB  - 220

2^ND PRIZE – A FLIGHT OVER YORKSHIRE IN A LIGHT AIRCRAFT  - 272

3^RD PRIZE – TOP OF THE RANGE SHARK VACUUM CLEANER AND NINJA FOOD PROCESSOR – 511