Heart of the Forest Dragon Boat Festival
Date: Sunday 6th September 2015
Location: Albert Village, Swadlincote
Race the Dragon were proud to once again support the Heart of the Forest Dragon Boat Festival, a fantastic charity fundraising event held at Albert Village, Swadlincote. Over the past two years, this event has raised funds for several charities, including Marie Curie Cancer Care. This year, the spotlight charity was Help for Heroes.
Event Overview
Teams from local companies – including Tesco, Autosmart, and Pontoon and Dock – took to the water to compete in an exciting day of dragon boat racing.
Two large pontoons were installed on the beach to create efficient team loading areas, while a third pontoon was transformed into a sound stage for live music and a catwalk for the festival’s fashion show. A large marquee housed the bar, serving a great selection of local real ales and ice-cold beers.
At the opposite end of the field, spectators enjoyed juggling acts, face painting, raffles, and a variety of ‘come and try’ water sports, including canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and zorbing, ensuring there was something for everyone throughout the day.
On the Water
The day began warm and bright, with teams arriving in high spirits and dressed to impress. Costumes ranged from Vikings and superheroes to pirates and Smurfs, with faces painted in combat colours and plenty of laughter before the racing began.
The competition followed a two-boat race format, with three-boat races for the finals to ramp up the excitement. Calm lake conditions made for quick times right from the start, with early races finishing in just under a minute. As the day went on, the competitive spirit kicked in, and teams began asking for paddling tips, which our event crew were happy to provide!
Round two saw the first of the three-boat races, and the atmosphere was electric. The crowd roared encouragement as the boats powered across the water, helping teams achieve even faster times. One spectator summed it up perfectly: “It’s a great spectator sport as well as a physical one.”
Festival Fun
During the lunch break, attention turned to the fashion show on the catwalk pontoon. Models showcased a range of creative and quirky outfits to an enthusiastic audience. Congratulations to all the participants — some of whom even swapped the runway for a dragon boat later in the day!
The Finals
By the third round, every team was in full stride. After a day of strong performances, three teams stood out and made it through to the three-boat final:
- Dragon Heart (RJH Construction 1)
- Just Row With It
- Eragon (RJH Construction 2)
The final was fiercely contested, with all three boats averaging an impressive 45 seconds. Ultimately, Dragon Heart (RJH Construction 1) claimed victory, recording the fastest time of the day — 45.06 seconds.
Conclusion
The Heart of the Forest Dragon Boat Festival was another tremendous success — combining fun, teamwork, and community spirit to raise funds for a worthy cause. Race the Dragon were delighted to provide the boats, infrastructure, and event support for a truly memorable day.
