A TEAM of managers from a supermarket chain is talking tactics ahead of York’s Dragon Boat race.

Regional managers for the supermarket giant Aldi are in training for the York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge on Sunday, July 12 – and once again they will be raising funds for the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice. The Aldi team that took their places in last year’s event raised more than £3,000 for the hospice, and for York Rotary Club’s chosen charities.

The team members this year are determined to do even better. Janet Morley, director of fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, said: “All the team members are very enthusiastic, and last year’s races showed they are pretty good paddlers, too.

“We are very grateful to them all for putting so much effort in to the day and into raising funds for our work. We’ll be there to cheer them on as they paddle along the River Ouse in the centre of York on July 12.”

This will be the seventh time the York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge has been held. Racing is due to start at 10am.

The race will take place over a 250- metre stretch of the River Ouse between Scarborough and Lendal Bridges.

Each team seeks sponsorship with one third going to designated charities and two-thirds going to a charity of the team’s own choice. The 2009 nominated charities are York Nightstop and York Samaritans.