ROTARIANS have donated a specially made trophy for the Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club Dragon Boat Race which takes place in June.

Dianne Fisher, wife of projects team leader John Fisher, hand-cast and painted the China dragon trophy which is mounted on an elegant wooden plinth made by Rotarian Kevin Brown.

Future winners of the Dragon Boat Race will see their team names engraved on the trophy, and plans are under way to display it at the Marriott Hotel where the Rotary Club meets every Wednesday evening.

Paul Parfrey, president of the Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club, said: “The members of our club were overwhelmed when the dragon trophy was presented to us. This is a remarkable piece of work and demonstrates the support and enthusiasm we are receiving toward our dragon boat event. If I was entering a team, I would want my team name on it.”

Nine different companies including Tyco Electronics, Thameswood Vets and SEQOL, have already entered the competition, which will take place at Coate Water on June 30.

Newbury-based company, Feltham Construction have two boats entered and are the main sponsors for the event.

Feltham Construction chairman David Yates said: “We are delighted to be able to support Swindon Phoenix with their inaugural dragon boat race.

“As main sponsors of the event we look forward to helping them raise funds for the good causes and already have over 100 of our staff and their family members joining us on the day.”

Dragon Boat Events Ltd will provide the 40ft long canoe-style dragon boats to carry 16 paddlers and a drummer from each team. DBE will also provide a helmsman to guide the teams along the challenging 250m stretch of lake.

DBE operations director John Griffiths said: “Coate Water is the perfect venue for a dragon boat event of this scale and has the capacity to hold up to a six boat final.

“We are looking forward to being in Swindon.”

Teams of up to 20 people can enter the competition by paying a £150 deposit on a team boat, the total cost of which is £550.

Winners in first, second, and third place will receive medals and first place winners will also receive the engraved trophy to take home.

As well as the race itself, there will be a number of shore-side activities including stalls, BBQ, ice cream and a mobile bar hosted by Arkell’s brewery and the Sun Inn.

To enter, email info@ dragonboatswindon.org.uk or visit swindonphoenixrotary.org