AFTER having to cancel last year’s event, Skipton Rotary was determined to make this year’s Dragon Boat Race at the Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa a success, writes Graham Hamilton.

A total of 13 teams raced each with 12 rowers and a drummer to keep them all in order and had three heats across the 200 metre course on the hotel’s lake before semi finals and the final.

Each team was raising money for its own individual charity. Airedale Hospital and Community Charity entered three teams aptly named ‘Make a Splash’, ‘Rainbow Rockets’ and ‘The Pfizer Chiefs’. Jennie Tennant from ‘Rainbow Rockets’ explained the team was made up of colleagues from the Outpatient Department and were raising funds for the renovation of the hospital’s ‘Quiet Room’, where patients can spend time after cancer diagnoses.

The mental health charity MIND from Bradford was supported by two teams, ‘Science Wonders’ and Science Army’ from Broughton Laboratories and Broughton Nicotine Services and Holly House Vets from Ilkley managed two teams, ‘Komodo Dragons’ and ‘Falcon Furies’.

If there had been a prize for the least auspicious name then the team ‘Sink or Swim’, raising funds for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, must surely have been a contender.

“Manorlands Hospice is a very worthy cause and we’re supporting them in memory of my father in law, Jim Caygill, who was a long standing member of Skipton Rotary and sadly died in 2019,” said team captain David Leeming.

Despite the team’s name they managed to score the two of the best times in the heats and were beaten by a fraction of a second in the final.

One of the best dressed teams must surely have been ‘Bees Knees’, composed of members of a fitness group raising funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) who all dressed in bee costumes for the day.

Zoe Hall, team captain, explained how they had all been inspired by the attitude of former Leeds Rhinos scrum half, Rob Burrows.

“We managed to raise £4,500 for MND by running seven marathons in seven days and we’re hoping to add to that total.”

The Principle Trust Children’s Charity, based in Skipton, provides respite breaks for underprivileged, disadvantaged and disabled children with five holiday homes across the country.

“We’re on course to raise over £1,000 today,” said Simon Thomas, team captain, and trustee.”‘

“This will help towards our aim of providing a sixth home for children from across the district.”

However, once all the heats and semi-finals were over, the final was won by ‘Nadarra’, a team entered by the Coniston Hotel, Country Estate and Spa.

They were raising funds for eight years old Luke Mortimer, who caught bacterial meningitis in 2019.

So severe was Luke’s reaction that he underwent 23 different operations and doctors had to amputate his arms below the elbow and both legs below the knee.

Up until that point Luke had been a keen rugby player. Crowd funding over the past 18 months has raised £127,474 and Nadarra hope to raise £1,000 to help boost the total. Harry Maltby, Team Captain was delighted by the win,’ What a fantastic day – and thank you to all who sponsored us and to the team members who helped on the day.’

Louise Bolton, Managing Director of the Coniston Hotel, Country Estate and Spa, said, ‘We’re delighted to host the Dragon Boat Race again. Fundraising for charities has been so difficult over the last 18 months and this event gave those organisations taking part the opportunity to provide their chosen charity a helping hand as well as have a great fun day out.’

Andrew Gold, immediate Past president of Skipton Rotary, had shouldered most of the pre-event organisation, said:”It was fabulous to have the opportunity to run the event again and another successful event which people enjoyed.

“Proceeds from the raffle and fundraising at the event raised over £12,000 for the range of charities supported.

“Thank you to everyone involved which made it a success. Anyone inspired by this who is interested in entering a team for our next such event can register now."

The raffle prize, a day’s spa experience for two at the Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa, thanks to their generous donation, was won by Rob Knowles from Leeds.

To register for next year’s event, email: andrew.gold@skiptonrotary.org