Relaxing time: Fun for all the family

PEMBROKESHIRE is looking forward to hosting the 3rd Welsh Dragon Boat Championships on Sunday May 29 at Llys y Fran Country Park and Reservoir.

The event, which is organised by the Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club promises to be a familyfriendly affair and is raising money and awareness for charities and good causes providing ‘Life Development Opportunities’ for young people in our community.

Principle recipients are the Princes Trust Cymru and selected secondary and primary schools within Pembrokeshire and West Carmarthenshire.

The Prince’s Trust believes that every young person should have the chance to succeed, so they help 13- 30 year olds who are unemployed or struggling at school to transform their lives.

The event organisers have worked tirelessly for months to ensure that the third year is a resounding success; it is now one of the key highlights within Pembrokeshire’s event calendar. Organisers, The Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club – have paid close attention to detail on all aspects of the event once again and there will be a fully licensed bar in operation throughout the day.

The event is pitched at the entire family, with masses of activities scheduled to appeal to all ages and interests. All children’s activities are free of charge and the admission price of £2 per adult means that it is a very reasonable day out for a family for the Whitsun Bank Holiday Sunday.

The race itself involves approximately 20 teams of 17 members, varying in ability and experience, racing in traditional Dragon Boats with a drummer at the bow and an experienced rudder man at the helm. It is extremely exciting for spectators to watch from the shoreline at the reservoir and is an enjoyable day out for all the family.

The event is being hosted at Llys y Fran Country Park in Pembrokeshire – the magnificent 350-acre park site at the heart of the county. The park boasts a 212-acre reservoir on which the race itself will take place.

The park – popular with ramblers, cyclists, water sports and fishing enthusiasts boasts a family-friendly restaurant, gift shop and a vast outdoor nature trail around the manmade lake.

Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club would like to thank Welsh Water and the Llys y Fran management for their generosity promoting this event as a family festival. There is free overnight camping on the Saturday night and for small fee payable to Welsh Water on the Sunday Night.

A giant marquee will be on site for day and evening entertainment. Bring your own gazebo and picnic on the grassy banks of the reservoir and enjoy the race spectacle.

During the previous two years the event has raised £24,000 for Welsh and local charities. The event has the policy “Raised in Wales Spent in Wales”. This year the club is keen that young people of all ages are given a fair chance in life and so this is the reason they have decided to go with the theme to help children and young adults who need encouragement to improve their lives in some way.

We all know how budgets in schools and organisations are stretched to the limit helping young people find jobs and raising their aspirations for the future by giving them help in a financial way and we are pleased as a Rotary Club to be able to help the Princes Trust Cymru and our local schools fulfil this aim to help them with projects that otherwise may not have been possible.