SCHOOL children from across the district and beyond had an oar-some time this as this year’s Bradford Dragonboat Festival got underway.

The Youth Championships featured teams of children of all ages and abilities representing schools from across the district, as well as some from further afield in the UK.

The schools event was held during the morning under glorious blue skies on the River Aire at Roberts Park in Saltaire, while a second round of racing is being held this evening for youth groups, such as Scouts groups and cadets.

The racing has certainly whet the appetite for tomorrow’s racing in the Lord Mayor’s Championship, which sees hundreds of paddlers go head-to-head to win the biggest prize of the weekend, and Sunday’s Multi-Charity Championship which will see hundreds more take part.

Bradford Dragonboat Festival is well established as the biggest event of its kind in the UK, and one of the biggest in Europe.

In the Schools event, there were three categories of racing; Year 6, Junior Years 7 to 9, and Senior Years 10 to 13.

Participating schools were: Hanson School, Shipley College, St Bede’s and St Joseph’s, Crossley Hall Primary, Titus Salt, Bradford Academy, Baildon CE Primary, Southfield Grange, Appleton Academy, Thackley Primary, Glenaire Primary, Oastler’s, and Bradford Through Care, with Yeadon Westfield and Rastrick High travelling from outside Bradford to take part.

At the evening event teams are split into two categories, Juniors aged 11 to 14, and Seniors 15 to 19.

Teams taking part are: Youth Services from Bradford East, West, South, Shipley and Keighley; Scouts from Haworth and Menston; Bradford West Cadets; Keighley Police Cadets, Laisterdyke Leadership Academy and Bradford Barracudas Youth Team.

After an unusually wet June, there had been some worry about the weather casting a cloud over the festival, but thankfully the weather Gods have been listening to Bradford’s prayers.

Tomorrow is forecast to be a mix of sun and cloud, with temperatures topping out at 20 degrees. Sunday looks set to be a touch cooler, with maximum temperatures of 19 degrees, and thunderstorms predicted appearing to stay away until well after the end of racing.

Both days, the action is scheduled to get underway at 10am, and there is plenty more entertainment on dry land for all ages, including live music, children’s activities, food and drink stalls, an arts and crafts market and more.

Admission to the festival is completely free, and all proceeds go to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.