Newcastle’s First Ever Dragon Boat Race On The Tyne

Starting at 10am and finishing around 5.30pm, (depending on the number of Boats competing) 3 boats at a time will compete on the river for the inaugural title of Dragon Boat Champions. Proceeds raised from the event will go towards two chosen charities, Tiny Lives and the Fire Fighters Charity.

Boats hold between 11 – 16 challengers plus a drummer. Rowers will paddle to the beat of the on-board drummer while competing on a route marked out between the Tyne Bridge and the Millennium Bridge.

The course is 250m in length and will face the tides of the Tyne.

Organisers, Phil Pugh and Paul are looking for 20 teams to sign up for this fun and challenging race, which gives competitors a unique, first of its kind opportunity to enjoy the splendid scenery of Newcastle and Gateshead’s iconic Quayside from the river as well as enjoying a good workout!

Competitors are invited to form groups of 11 – 16, plus a drummer. Friends, family or workmates are invited to make up teams! St. James Wealth Management Fund based on the Quayside and NE1 Ltd themselves have already registered to compete as a team building exercise.

The Dragon Boat festival fun will extend onto the Quayside onto NE1’s nearby pop up beach, the Northumbrian Water Quayside Seaside where there will be food stalls and live entertainment during the afternoon for the Dragon Boat racers and their spectators and supporters to enjoy.

There are three different Dragon Boat packages for participants to choose from:

Bronze Package: Boat only, Total Price £550. This works out at £34.50 per person for a full, 16-strong team.

Silver Package: Includes the Boat fee plus a Food and Drinks voucher for each participant: Total Price £750

Gold Package: – This premium corporate package includes all the elements of the Silver including the boat, food and drinks voucher plus film footage of the day with interviews and footage of each race. Total price: £950.

Phil and Paul are also creating a boat for those who want to take part as individuals. The team is ideal for people who simply want to enjoy taking part and are happy to join a collective team organised for them.

For further info and to book contact:

Philip Pugh: 07737 362 405 at philip@adeptcts.co.uk or Paul: 07989 431 697 at hoppo3892@gmail.com

Tariq Albassam, Head of Operations at NE1 Ltd said:
“We are delighted to welcome the first ever Dragon Boat Race to the Tyne and what’s more we can’t wait to compete in the race. We have handpicked our NE1 team and know it will be a great team building exercise, as long as everyone pulls their weight and helps us to win! Animating the river was one of the pledges we made in our five-year business plan. Attracting events and activities like the Dragon Boat race help bring new life to the river and to the Quayside. We are excited for race day.”

Another Dragon Boat Race team manager is Mark Beverley from St. James’ Wealth Management:
“We work at the Quayside, so we see the river every day. It is great to have the opportunity of taking our team onto the water and see the city from a completely different perspective. I know the Dragon Boat Race is going to be great fun, and a bit competitive. It’s going to be a fantastic, perfect and active way to get our team together doing something fun on the river.”

Philip Pugh, Race Organiser said:
“Bringing a Dragon Boat Race to the City is a great way to show what our River and beautiful City has to offer. Events are planned for the whole day on the Quayside as well as the Dragon Boat Race itself. It is going to be a fun filled, happy day, irrespective of the weather. It’s a day for the whole family to enjoy and will help Paul and I raise the profile of two Charities Tiny Lives and the Fire Fighters Charity, who we will be rowing across the Atlantic for in December as part of the Atlantic Dream Challenge.”