BUILDERS, soldiers, scientists and charity workers took to the River Ouse to battle it out in Dragon Boats this weekend.

This year’s York Rotary Club Dragon Boat Race saw thousands of people from across York line the banks of the Ouse to cheer on the racers on a gloriously sunny day. 

Teams from all walks of life raced throughout the day between Scarborough Bridge and Lendal Bridge, with Tadcaster Trojans, from Tadcaster Community Swimming Pool, crowned the eventual winners.

Since the event began 15 years ago the club has aimed to raise more than £1million for charities and organisations in the city, and it achieved that total this year.

The day itself raised £70,000, bringing the 15 year total to £1,020,000. 
Lewis Holdsworth from the Mad Scientists team, who were representing ACM Laboratories in Fulford, said: “It’s a good day and we have managed not to set the slowest time this year, which is an improvement!

“We were training on stools in the canteen, so it has paid off. 

Leo Verity, captain of the York Alzheimer’s Society team, said: “It’s going surprisingly well. We won one of our races and we are hopeful of winning the Charity Cup.

“We are grateful to be picked as we are one of two beneficiaries.

“A lot of the money we raise goes towards the work we do like supporting services for dementia, which could be cafes and groups in York.

“We also do campaign work for the rights of people with dementia.”
The Island, a children’s charity in Priory Street, York, was also represented by a team.

Andy Herbert, a trustee, said the money the team has raised will go to supporting the work they do, which involves training adult mentors to develop a relationship with children with difficulties in life.

He said: “It’s been a really good day and we will get some money to help us.
Brian Joscelyne, president of York Rotary Club, said: “Everyone comes here for a laugh, but they all end up being very competitive at the end of the day.
“That’s great because we have teams from all different organisations and charities in York and military teams, so it’s a really lovely mix of people and teams.