Oars to the ready! IMperial Dragons take on annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat race
03 Jul 2009
A team from the Birmingham office took to the high seas (well, Birmingham’s Canals!) at the weekend, competing in the 10th annual Dragonboat Festival to raise funds for Barnardo’s in the Midlands.
The annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival is one of Birmingham’s most exciting outdoor events. There are twenty places available to companies across the region to take part in this exhilarating event, which aims to raise £30,000 for Barnardo’s work in the region. Barnardo’s Midlands work to improve the lives of 19,000 children affected by poverty, family breakdown, homelessness, educational disadvantage, sexual abuse, life limiting illnesses and disabilities in 50 projects throughout the region.
Crew Captain Fergal Dowling and First Mate, Sylvia Chan led the "IMperial Dragons" to water against 16 other local businesses in what proved to be a fun, yet action packed day of races! Fergal commented: "I am pleased to say that our team, the ‘IMperial Dragons’, raised £1000 for Barnardo’s and, while it was competitive, the Dragonboat Festival was also a great day out and good fun for all. In fact, the crew enjoyed the dragonboats so much that they are keen to take part next year, which means that I shall have no need to press gang any colleagues."
Each team consisted of 12 - 16 rowers with one drummer setting the pace in a series of heats along the canal between the Pitcher and Piano in Brindleyplace and the NIA (about 400m) in 40ft long Hong Kong style Dragon Boats cheered on by friends, colleagues and the public. Also at the event were Chinese lion dancers, a raffle, children’s entertainers, a BRMB road show and interactive activities throughout the day.
The crew consisted of Fergal Dowling, Sylvia Chan, Lisa Jordan, Lucy Edwards, Tom Riis-Bristow, Laura McLeary, Lisa Chopra, Caroline Delpedge, Rob Taylor, Jo Beddows, Jonathan Peacock, Kam Bains, Emma Dowling, Rajbir Somel, Carole Maddock, Afua Akom and Birmingham’s very own IMperial Mouse!
back