EARLIER this month the Dragon Boat Festival was sponsored, for a third year in a row, by estate agent Ashton Burkinshaw.

The September 9 event at Bewl Water in Lamberhurst, Kent, attracted crews of 16 paddlers, plus a drummer, to race in a 200m water course in Chinese-style dragon boats.

Each team fundraises for local, national and international charities of their choice and this year's event raised more than £130,000.

The Dragon Boat Festival is the largest event of its type in Europe with 50 teams competing in 10 decorated dragon boats watched by more than 6,000 spectators.

Daniel Burkinshaw was a member of the Funraisers team; a group of six friends who organise the race event.

The winners' trophies and medals were presented by company director Frances Burkinshaw.

"Over the nine years the Funraisers have been organising this fantastic event, a staggering £900,000 has been raised for charity," said Daniel Burkinshaw.

"Next year is the big one. As it's the event's 10th anniversary we are determined to smash the £1m mark.

"The Dragon Boat Festival is a unique event which allows companies and organisations to get a team together and race for their favourite charity.

"It is an exhilarating day for the competitors and a thrilling show for the spectators. So we are hoping for a huge amount of support next year."