The eagerly anticipated East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival is a great opportunity for local companies, organisations and clubs to get teams together and do battle on the waters of Oulton Broad, Lowestoft. Although there can only be one winner in the dragon boat races taking place on Saturday 31st August, a number of local and national charities will also be winners this year.

The Dragon Boat Festival, sponsored by Warner Leisure Hotels, is an open charity event with entrants invited to raise money for the charity of their choosing. Teams opting for the popular gold and silver entry packages, which include a charity donation as well as marketing benefits, can nominate their favourite charity to benefit from their donations. Last year, Turner Iceni, ScottishPower Renewables, Norfolk Drywall, Associated British Ports and Lings Motor Group all chose these entry packages to help their favourite causes and Warner Leisure Hotels raised over £11,000 in sponsorship for their partner charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

Amongst the other charities to benefit from funds raised by the crews were RNLI Lowestoft Lifeboat, Caister Lifeboat, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nelson’s Journey, QEH King’s Lynn Breast Care Unit, EACH Nook Appeal, The Big C and Princes Trust.

ABP has taken part in the past three Dragon Boat Festivals with members of staff representing the Ports of Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and Ipswich and crew captain, Lucia Firman comments, “The dragon boat race is a great way to get people from the various different ABP ports together, have fun and raise money for charity at the same time. ABP supports several charities around the UK and is active in participation in fundraising events. The dragon boat festival is a great opportunity to meet and catch up with people not seen in a normal working day and every year more people want to get involved”.

Alongside ABP, teams from Colosseum Dental, Lovewell Blake, Netmatters, OneLife Suffolk, QD Stores and four Warner Leisure resorts have already signed up for this popular event and there is plenty of time to join them on the start line this August.

To take part in the dragon boat racing, no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm! Under the expert guidance of a qualified helm provided by Festival organisers Gable Events, your crew of up to 11 people will soon be paddling in time and bonding together as you race towards the finish line over the 200m race course. Each team gets three attempts to improve their race times with everyone having an equal chance of reaching the semi-finals. There is something for every team to aim for as trophies and medals are awarded to the top three crews, top mixed crew and the ‘best dressed’.

For further information and an entry form please visit: 

www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470718. For information about Festival sponsor, Warner Leisure Hotels, visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or call 01442 863245.

Warner Leisure is the proud sponsor of the 2019 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival and they are working together with partner charity, Macmillan Cancer Support to fund a range of help and advice for people affected by cancer.

Photos attached from the 2018 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival courtesy Gable Events picture library