Reflecting on a brilliant afternoon spent out on the water at Surrey Docks to raise money for a vital cause.

On 21st May, our 11‑strong team took part in the annual Dragon Boat Challenge, hosted by CRASH, and what a day it was. With sunshine overhead and plenty of team spirit on display, the event once again proved why it’s such a highlight in the calendar.

Paddles at the ready

Our crew, Alex Lovelock, David Sweeney, Harry Durbridge, Jayson Bratt, Joe Abbott, Josh Kohler, Matt Austen, Matt Shepherd, Ross Allen, Steve La Roche and Thomas Parker, were back in action.

Supporting from the sidelines were Andrew Greiner, Laura Cottle,  Lesley Brewster, Nia Forrester, bringing just as much energy off the water.

While the competition was fierce, the atmosphere was unbeatable, with teams cheering each other on throughout the day.

Racing for a reason

Of course, the day is about more than rowing 200m to cross the finish line. The event supports CRASH, the UK construction industry’s charity, which helps homelessness charities and hospices create safe, supportive spaces for those who need them most.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity and effort, we raised a fantastic £2,080 for CRASH, contributing to an incredible £35,000 total raised. This will help make a real, lasting difference, something we can all be super proud to have been part of.

Style points matter too…

We narrowly missed out on the semi‑finals, finishing 14th out of 33 teams, a strong showing in a very competitive field.

While we may not have taken home the overall trophy, we certainly didn’t leave empty‑handed. Winning Best Dressed meant we were, without doubt, the best‑looking crew on the water, and we’re proud to say that’s not the first time, after taking home the same title in 2023.

A great way to round off an even greater day.

A huge thank you to CRASH for hosting another fantastic event, and to everyone who supported us along the way. We’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year.