Chippenham’s Dragon Boat Race funding local community groups and clubs

The Annual Chippenham Dragon Boat Race (Sat 9th July 2011), is helping local community groups and clubs to raise much needed funding.

Rotarian Graham Stow says “team captains can select a charity or community

group or club they wish to support, and the majority of the money raised by

that team will benefit that organisation, the balance benefiting Rotary

charities.”

Thus a local community group or club can use the event to

raise money for themselves by entering a team and harnessing all team members

to do some modest fundraising. Graham says “this is a proving a big driver

for community groups and clubs to enter the event. Any type of community group

or club is eligible to do this, from community support groups through to sports

clubs - providing they are of a non-commercial, not-for-profit nature,

community groups or clubs can use the event to raise money for themselves”.

Rotary Club secretary Lyn Crabtree says “It’s great that

local organisations who need to raise money for their projects or clubs are

entering teams, as this supports local community interests and is an investment

in Chippenham. It’s a brilliant day out for competitors and spectators alike

and over the past 2 years has raised in excess of £20,000 for a variety of

local, national, and international charities and community groups and is fast

becoming an eagerly anticipated annual event for Chippenham and one which

attracts many visitors into the town. The dragon boat race is held in

conjunction with ‘Art in the Park’ organised by the Rotary Club of Chippenham.

Holding the two events together in Monkton Park allows the Rotary Clubs of

Chippenham to make a day for the whole family to enjoy. Many teams have such a

great time they are keen to return the following year- this year two

organisations are so keen they have each entered two teams”.

This year’s race is generously sponsored by Chippenham

Borough Lands Charity, Emery Gate Shopping Centre, Borough Parade Shopping

Centre, Chippenham Town Council, Waitrose, The Black Farmer, and Whitehall

Garden Centre.   

The dragon boats create quite a spectacle being 40 ft long

with a dragon’s head at the front and a tail at the back (look out for them on

display in the street fayre at the folk festival on Bank Holiday Monday 30th

May). They are supplied by an events company complete with paddles, helmsmen,

life jackets, safety boat, safety training, tuition etc, so all teams have to

provide are 16 paddlers and a drummer. This year Rotary are providing team

tents set out in a mini ‘Olympic style village’. All this infrastructure is

included in the £399 entry fee (£299 for youth teams).

Chippenham Dragon Boat Race is enjoyed enormously by all who

take part as well as the spectators, most of whom go home with sore throats

from cheering on the teams or laughing at the fancy dress and antics of the

participants. Last year’s event included the filming of an episode of Channel 5

TV programme ‘The Gadget Show’, and this year’s event will have another

surprise up its sleeve which will be revealed on the race day – Saturday 9th

July.

For more information go to www.rotary-chippenham-wv.org.uk/dbr

or telephone 01249 656172.