Dragon boat race raises £260k for good causes

An annual dragon boat race which raises thousands for charity has been declared a roaring success.

At Himley Park, Himley Hall, near Wombourne, yesterday teams from across the Black Country took part in the 12th annual race, which was organised by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton.

Winners of the Dragon Boat Challenge were the Joner's Ark team, one of three teams from Goodrich Actuation, Wednesfield, with a time of 1min15sec. The best school winner was Royal Wolverhampton School with a time of 1min21sec.

Rotary Club President Richard Green, said: "In the past 11 years the challenge has raised more than £260,000 for charity."

Wolverhampton Grammar School teachers took to the water dressed as pirates. A team from GKR Karate Club, which runs classes throughout the Dudley area, took part.

Chris Jewkes of Chris Jewkes Fitness, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton entered two teams of members into the race, a boys team and a girls team.

Kidderminster-based Russell Perks Martial Arts Academy raised funds for the British Heart Foundation, because the organisation's shop in the town was burnt down last year.