Hollingworth Lake Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon boat festival

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Local groups and organisations put their oar in for charity on Saturday afternoon (16 July), at the annual dragon boat fundraising event for Springhill Hospice and enjoy the unexpectedly dry morning.

The festival, held every year at the Hollingworth Lake, attracts all sort of competitors; work colleagues, football teams, friends and sporting groups who come together for a good cause.

As well as the boat races, stalls selling goods and games and bouncy castles and rides were enjoyed by lots of children.

Jon Geldard, Rochdale Round Table Chairman, said: “Springhill Hospice holds a place in the hearts of so many local people, we’re proud to support them again this year and can only hope to replicate the fundraising of the last two dragon boat races.”

Clair Carson, the Pink Warrior’s manager and rowing mentor, said: “Last year girls from the under 15s team took part in the dragon boat festival and enjoyed themselves so much, we decided to get involved again this year with teams from both their Under 15 and 18s squads.

“Rugby training is ideal for this type of sport, lots of upper body strength and good balance, added to which is our girls burning desire to win.”

Originating from China over 2,000 years ago the history of the dragon boat race is steeped in magical yet heroic myth with dragon boat racing becoming the world’s fastest growing water sport.