Round 1 Races from the 2012 Salford Dragon Boat Festival

Race 1 saw Team Sunny Thinking in lane 1 racing against Rosemere Rowers in the green boat 2.

Team Sunny Thinking were supporting The Royal Manchester Children's Charity,

Rosemere Rowers were supporting the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

For both teams, this was their first time dragon boating not that you would think it as Team Sunny Thinking took an early commanding lead, soon crossing the line with a 1.15.06 compared with the Rosemere Rowers 1.36.62.

Race 2 saw The TT Racers in lane 1 racing against Y Club in boat 2.

The TT Racers were supporting The Royal Manchester Children's Charity,
Y Club were supporting the The Christie.

Both teams put in very strong performance, with little to choose between them at the half way stage. Team Y Club however gradually started to pull away in the second half of the race, crossing the line just 2.21 seconds ahead of The TT Racers with another new fastest time of the day - 1.07.98.

Race 3 saw Dyer Environmental in lane 1 racing against The Cruden Crew in boat 2.
 
Dyer Environmental were supporting The Royal Manchester Children's Charity,
The Cruden Crew were supporting the Brainwave.

Both teams put in very strong performance, with little to choose between them at the half way stage. Team Y Club gradually started to pull away in the second half of the race, crossing the line just 2.21 seconds ahead of The TT Racers with a new fastest time of the day - 1.07.98.

Race 4 saw PCA UK in lane 1 racing against Team Real XS in boat 2.

PCA UK were supporting St Mary's Hospital, Manchester,
Team Real XS were supporting The 'Men Matter' Appeal.

PCA UK put in a very strong performance right from the start, crossing the line with a 1.17.19. compared with 1.25.47 from Team Real XS.

In fairness to Team Real XS, the crew had all be celebrating the radio station's 10th anniversery the night before and so were all feeling rather delicate.

Race 5 saw Andrei's Argonauts in lane 1 racing against Team Sunny Thinking in boat 2.

Andrei's Argonauts were supporting The Mustard Tree,
Team Sunny Thinking were supporting The Royal Manchester Children's Charity.

Andrei's Argonauts in the yellow boat were the last team to race in Round 1, and so were up against Team Sunny Thinking (the green boat) who had already raced.

Such is the progressive nature of dragon boating that a far more confident Team Sunny Thinking soon took a commanding lead in this race.

Andrei's Argonauts: 1.25.51
Team Sunny Thinking: 1.11.17