07 June 2008
As part of ‘China at Harewood’, we will be hosting a Community Dragon Boat race in partnership with the Leeds Chinese Community Association and Dragon Essence.
In the Chinese calendar the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated each year to commemorate the Chinese Scholar and Statesman Qu Yuan who threw himself into a river as a political protest more than 2000 years ago. The people jumped in their boats and raced in vain to his aid, banging on pots and thrashing their paddles. Hence, Dragon Boat Racing began.
In June 2008, the Dragon Boat Festival comes to Harewood and whether you are a spectator or in a boat crew the sounds of the drum beating, gongs ringing, flags flying and paddles splashing will guarantee you an unforgettable experience!
Dragon Boat racing is a team sport which is challenging, exciting, healthy and fun. No specialist experience is needed for taking part in a boat crew* and we hope the event will attract a really broad range of participants and spectators.
The event allows a range of crews from community groups, through to uniformed and corporate crews to race alongside each other in 12.5m Dragon Boats!
If you are interested in providing a crew for the Dragon Boat race please contact the Learning and Access Department at Harewood and you will be sent an information pack and further details. Each crew requires a minimum of 16 paddlers or a maximum of 18, one drummer and a lakeside manager; no prior experience is needed. All equipment including buoyancy aids will be provided on the day and every team will be provided with a qualified professional helmsman for their race.
Entry Fees:
• £100 (refundable deposit) for Community Crews - Members of a local community, sport or charity organisation who are not water sport based clubs.
• £100 per Public Service Crew - Employees of a Public Service organisation (eg Police, Fire-fighters, Hospital workers etc) or family members of employees.
• £200 per Corporate Crew - Employees of the corporation or family members of employees.
Entry fee includes use of boats and equipment for racing in a minimum of three races, plus coaching and an experienced helmsman for one day of racing.
Throughout the day there will be fun-packed family activities on site including lantern making, paper crafts, tai chi demonstrations, traditional Unicorn dances and much more.
For general information please contact the Harewood Box Office on 0113 2181000
For information on how to register a crew, please contact the Learning and Access Department on 0113 218 1043 or email learning-admin@harewood.org
* All participants must be over the age of 16 and able to swim
