Nearly 70 paddling members from Worcester Dragon Boat Racing Club descended on Peterborough Rowing Club for the final league round of the season.

The club entered four crews, Worcester Dragons in the open premier, Worcester Too and Worcester Ladies in scratch and Renault Wolves in standard.

The water, widely recognised as the toughest venue for dragon boat racing on the circuit, provided a stiff challenge for both the light Worcester Too crew and also the ladies in their first competitive outing.

Both registered improving times throughout the day -- a measure of a good day's racing -- finishing the day with a one-two in the class minor final.

The ladies notably set faster times than other more experienced crews in the standard division.

Renault Wolves showed their future potential as a premier crew by winning their final race convincingly in the fourth fastest time of the day, only bettered by Batchworth Dragons and Worcester Dragons.

Crewsader, the fifth local crew failed to sustain their division-winning form of the season, dropping back under the strengthening challenge from the other clubs.

After easy wins in the heats and semi-finals the Worcester Dragons met Batchworth Dragons, event winners for many years, in the final race of the day.

Despite Batchworth taking the advantage off the start line, Worcester pulled back by 200m with controlled effort and continued to take water through to the line.

The sub 2:20 winning time was a course record and fastest time of the day by six seconds.

Magnificent trophies, sponsored by Tate & Lyle, will be displayed alongside the others won this season.

The club is now focused on the finale to the season, the National Cup in October where it will compete in all classes except junior.

Chairman Tim Ward said: v "We already have the nucleus of a junior crew within the club and have just enough time to prepare keen and committed youngsters torepresent the City and enjoy some brilliant racing in Nottingham".

The club would like any interested juniors aged u18 on January 1, to contact the team on 01905-429257.