Despite early threat of rain, storm and gale-force winds, the weather Gods smiled and finally gave us perfect weather with blue skies and mild evening for the annual DSWC Dragon Boat Challenge to proceed unhindered.
Fifteen teams took part in this year’s fundraiser event on Friday 18th August and raised over £5,000 for the DSWC Youth Programme.
Novice paddlers, Sea Horse from Reardon Smith Architects won the race with a time of 01.17.67. For the Club race, BGT Allstars from the Windy Pandas club came first with a time of 01.15.42.
We’re proud to see the DSWC Youth team coming second best of all the teams with a time of 01.16.17.
Thank you to all the companies, clubs and organisations who took part – London Borough of Tower Hamlets, AJ Servicing, Berkeley Group, Reardon Smith Architects, Barclays, Properties of the World, Thames Dragons, Windy Pandas and London Sailing Club Meetup group – for making the event a fun, exciting and memorable one.
Thank you too to all staff from all departments – watersports, helm, emcee, catering, bar staff, admin, events – all volunteered their time to make this event happen!
Here’s some feedback we received from the participants:
- “Charity event was brilliant. Everyone enjoyed it and we will definitely be back next year!”
- “It is a great fun day and definitely a good team building activity. Plus the funds raised go to an amazing cause. Would definitely recommend it.”
- “A most enjoyable day/evening. There was positive feedback from all who partook in this event.”
- “Just had a fabulous time there. Very well organised – both the dragon boating and the social.”
- Best Costume Team category went to two very stylish and colourful teams from Reardon Smith Architects, Dirty Little Oars and Sea Horse. Neon coloured hair and pretty dresses ensured their place for best costume.
- Best Fundraiser Team category went to the DSWC Dudes and Divas, raising £600 for the event, thanks to captain Amy Duncan.
- Dragon Boat Race Club category
- 1st – BGT Allstars 01.15.42
- 2nd – Towie Allstars 01.16.69
- 3rd – Thames Upstarts 01.21.41
- Dragon Boat Race Novice category
- 1st – Sea Horse (Reardon Smith Architects) 01.17.67
- 2nd – Berkeley Bummers (Berkeley Group) 01.17.83
- 3rd – Expanded (Berkeley Group) 01.18.13
- 4th – Titanic 2 (Barclays) 01.23.99
- 5th – Dirty Little Oars (Reardon Smith Architects) 01.26.31
- 6th – Churchill Squad (Barclays) 01.27.41
We look forward to hosting another dragon boat fundraiser event next year.
For more information, please email info@dswc.org or phone 020 7537 2626.
Photos taken by our volunteer photographer Stella Lado.
Finally, a big thank you to our raffle prize sponsors – AJ Servicing, Big Easy Canary Wharf, Thames RIB London, Educogym, Bikram Yoga, Carluccio’s, The Ivy city Garden, Brodie’s, Sticks n Sushi, Capeesh aka Tompkins, Franco Manca.
