Application Form of Annual Manchester Dragon Boat Race
Annual Manchester Dragon Boat Race
Held on Sunday 18th July 2004
At Salford Water Sports Centre (near Lowry Centre)
The above event was co-organised by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Manchester China Town Lions Club and Manchester Oriental Organisations Alliance. The preparation for the event started shortly after last year’s race.
There were all together thirty two teams from different organisations competing for two major prizes, the Mackem Cup for the overall winner and the Manchester Community and Housing Challenge Cup for the ten community organisations and housing associations. This year each team enrolled for the Challenge Cup contributed £125.00 to GMFRS to cover the total cost of the event and £75.00 to the Chinese Elders’ Summer Activities Fund managed by MOOA. We are grateful for their generous donations.
Manchester Chinese Students and Scholars Association had provided voluntary stewards and workers to set up the venue. Xinhua Chinese Association, Taichi College, Buddhist Light International Association and Srilankan Performers had enriched the day’s programme by putting on traditional performance and once again proved Manchester as a bona fide multi-cultural city. We would like to officially record our appreciation and look forward to their support again next year.
The races had become ever so close, possibly because of the experience the teams gained from previous years. The Rowing Club lifted the Mackem Cup while Wates Construction retained their title as the
Challenge Cup Champion this year but unluckily came second in the Grand Final. They loss by a short head in a photo finish. Four teams also participated in the children Bell Boat Race and the winner was the Fire Service Cadets.
The prize presentation team consisted of Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Salford, Consul General of People’s Republic of China in Manchester, Mr. Deng Boqing, Senior Divisional Officer David Raymond of GMFRS and Chairman of Manchester Oriental Organisations Alliance, Mr. Kin Cheng JP.
It was estimated that over 2,500 persons visited the site throughout the day. It had been hard work for the organisers, staff of Gable Event Company and Salford Water Sports Centre, volunteers and workers manning the stalls, providing dinks and food but they had all thoroughly enjoyed the day and we will definitely organise this meaningful annual event in 2005. Once the date has been agreed and finalised all team representatives will be notified.