Paddling with Raging Dragons

Dragon boating is a competitive sport that relies on timing and team work. See with your eyes. Listen with your ears. Paddle with your heart. Fight fatigue to emerge champions. Rage as one.

What is dragon boat racing?

The sport’s origins reportedly date back to around 278BC. According to legend, respected poet and minister Qu Yuan drowned himself in a river in protest against a corrupt government. Villagers raced out in boats to save him and threw dumplings into the river to deter fish from eating his body.

Modern day dragon boat racing is a thrilling and colorful sport. It is fiercely competitive, involving large teams of twenty paddlers, a drummer and a helm. A crew’s strength, stamina, timing and team work are crucial to its success. It is recognized as one of the fastest growing sports in the world.

Raging Dragons – how it all began

Back in 2002, a group of university student friends built a remote controlled fighting robot and entered him into a competition. They named him ‘Rage’. His masters later decided to form an amateur dragon boat racing team. To commemorate their beloved robot creation, they called themselves the ‘Raging Dragons’.

It has taken over a decade of persistence and determination to get to where we are now. Today, Raging Dragons is a club with members of all ages and ethnic origins.

Rage continues to grow from strength to strength. Some of our members have gone on to represent Great Britain in European and World Championships, bringing home some gold medals in the process.

Want to try it out?

You don't have to be super fit – everyone has to start somewhere. We regularly welcome newbies to our training sessions, so chances are, you won't be alone :)

You can bring a buddy if you like, and our friendly team will look after you anyway. Your first three sessions with us are free. As a beginner, you'll be seated with or behind a Rage buddy so you have someone to follow. Just come and get a feel for timing, technique basics, and most importantly, have fun!

Membership is £140 for a year which gives you access to all our training sessions, use of the centre facilities, discounted rates on other activities at the centre and use of the small boats (after appropriate training).

Your only other defined annual cost is membership of the BDA (British Dragon Boating Association) of £35.

Just drop us a line and let us know when you're free to come for a paddle :)

Meet the team

Name	Position	Bio
Sarah McBride	Secretary	I have been dragon boating since 2013 giving me the opportunity to travel to some incredible places, France, Spain, Germany, and beyond, winning gold medals at the World Championships in Canada. I have also completed the basic helm qualification and my Level 1 coaching qualification, with plans to do Level 2 soon. Being part of Rage means more than just competing; it’s also enjoying drinks with team mates, and exploring new adventures together, including hiking through scenic trails and dancing the night away at a ceilidh. It’s a mixture of fitness, friendship, and fun.
Kate Smith	Paddler	Paddling since 2017, a year after my breast cancer diagnosis, I thought it wasn't my thing, I immediately fell in love with it, it was like meditation on water. I've had many adventures, including Vogalonga in 2018. Paddling gives me friendship, focus, good health and challenges me to take on new adventures and I get to meet such a diverse range of people. Being out in the elements washes away any stresses and tops me up for the week ahead. Joining Raging Dragons in 2025 feels like a natural progression. The team are great, welcoming and encouraging to everyone.
Shakeel Mawani	Membership Team	I attended a recruitment day back in 2023 and found the environment really welcoming - the whole team are really supportive as you learn the correct technique and build your strength and stamina - not to mention they're also great craic over a coffee or a beer! I live in Harrow, so it's a long drive to get to the centre, but those sunny Sunday mornings on the water make it well worth the effort.
Jo Tang	Chairman	As a small club, we offer a warm and supportive environment where beginners and seasoned paddlers alike can grow and improve their skills. Since joining the club a decade ago, I've really enjoyed the camaraderie and challenge of this dynamic sport, which combines physical fitness with teamwork and fun. Whether you're looking for a new adventure, a way to stay active, or simply a chance to connect with others, our club is the perfect place to start your dragon boat journey. Come paddle with us and discover the joys of dragon boating!
Richard Edmunds	Welfare Officer	Raging Dragons are like no other team I know – full of life, energy, people from all walks of life, from different countries and cultures, but when on that boat racing, the connection with 22 people is truly fantastic – one heart. Once a Rager, always a Rager, no matter who you are. Once you get into that boat, you belong. I have more than 40 close friends now thanks to Raging Dragons and dragon boating. As a chap over 50, I can honestly say I'm in the best shape I've ever been. If you want to be part of something exciting, don a Raging Dragons race top and become part of dragon boat history.
Peter Li	Membership & Recruitment Officer	Pete has been Dragon Boating since 2003 and is the club's 2025 membership recruitment lead and member of the coaching team. He is an Advanced Race Helm and British Dragon Boating Association (BDA) Coach Level 4 and spends some of his free time teaching others to the BDA coaching standards. "Dragon boating has given me a lot of cool opportunities, including participating in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant and winning Gold Medals at both European and World Championships"

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