History was again made at Trafford Water Park, Sale when on Sunday 14th May 2023, the venue hosted the largest dragon boat challenge ever held in the City of Manchester with 38 teams from around the region competing. 

Over the course of the event, the teams competed in three qualifying heats for the chance to go through to a 6-boat Grand Final, where the winner would be declared: Dragon Boat Champions of Manchester. 

This event was challenged to make a milestone in dragon boating, by being the first ever event in the UK where the emphasis was on Green Issues.  Harmful vehicle emissions affect us all and the organisers realised that by requiring all competitors to use the Manchester Metro rather than drive on to the site, reductions in vehicle harmful emissions could be made.  These values sat well with Trafford Council and also the public who visit Trafford Water Park, either for recreational use or to use the on site restaurant as it meant they were still able to use the car park.

Sadly, this memo had not been received by the Manchester Metro management, who decided to close down the entire Metro network on the morning of the event!  This decision was made even more confusing by the travel planner on Manchester Metro's own website showing all trams for the 14th May were still running!

Fortunately, the dragon boat challenge organisers had built in a solution for this highly unlikely scenario actually happening and so the event was still able to go ahead with the Green Objectives maintained in full.

The day was designed so that teams from either their company or their community organisation could enter and raise funds for their nominated registered charity. Equally, registered charities could promote the event to their supporters and get teams entering to raise funds for them.

Dragon Boat racing is all about a team of up to 17 people (sixteen paddlers and a drummer), racing down a 200 meter course as fast as possible.  It sounds simple!  The reality is that it requires both team work and timing for a good time to happen.  Clashing your paddles with another team member or getting out of time could affect the whole team's time, which is where the team drummer comes in.  Sitting on a seat at the front of the dragon boat, their job is to beat the big drum in time with the front pair to help the rest of the team paddle as one. 

This exciting opportunity to compete in what is widely regarded as a world's oldest sport (dragon boating started in China over 2,500 years ago) is what is helping to make this event so popular.  Suitable for both novice and experienced teams alike, NO previous experience is necessary as all training and instruction is given on the day. 

The day would not have been possible without the teams and recognition goes to the four Charity Partner representatives below for their tireless work in team recruitment.

The first round saw Persian Tiger (MFT) take the round's fastest time with 1.13.82, while the closest race of Round 1 was Race 13, which saw Wain Homes Worldies (1.29.55) take first place over Engineers gone a ‘Fishin’ (1.29.78), with Pareto Dragons (1.30.28) close behind.

In rounds two and three, now that the teams had some experience under their belt, it started to get more competitive as teams gathered round the event scoreboard before their next race to see who to beat!  In an exciting series of second and third round races, the fastest time of the qualifying heats was Persian Tiger (MFT) who remarkably, posted a fastest time of the day (1.13.73) in both their second and third qualifying heats!

The six teams competing in the Grand Final were (in lane order):

1. Blazing Paddles (MFT) from MFT Research and Innovation, who were supporting the Manchester Foundation Trust (MFT) Charity
2. Play Team (MFT) from RMCH Therapeutic & Specialised Play Team, who were supporting the MFT Charity
3. Manchester Dragons (MFT) from the Dragon Boat Club, who were supporting the MFT Charity
4. Persian Tiger (MFT) who were supporting the MFT Charity
5. A Boat Damn Time from DF Capital, who were supporting Wood Street Mission,
6. Sync or Swim from Car Benefit Solutions Ltd, who were supporting six different charities

In a dramatic start that saw the helm of the Persian Tiger (MFT) team lose control of her boat and do what is called  'a banana', the Grand Final then had to be re-started.  A Boat Damn Time sadly had to withdraw from the re-start and from the five remaining finalists, it was Persian Tiger (MFT) who took first place (1.17.10).  Second place went to Manchester Dragons (MFT) with 1.17.60, while third place went to Blazing Paddles (MFT) with 1.25.81.

Winners at this year's event: