Thousands turn out for annual Black Country Dragonboat event - in pictures

The sun was shining and the competition fierce as Dragon Boat Racing returned to Himley Hall in Dudley for its 18th consecutive year.

Eighteen teams battled it out in Chinese dragon boats on The Great Pool in a bid to raise funds for charities and causes all over the region – including Compton Care, the Beacon Centre for the Blind, the Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre and Sedgley Scorpions FC.

Mike Boyce, chairman of the Dragon Boat Committee at Wolverhampton Rotary Club, said: "It went fantastic and we had a record number of people there watching it which the weather helped.

"It is a really good family day out and it is quite exciting at the races. We get these long boats and we have up to 16 paddlers who they sit in two's.

"The object is to have some fun with fundraising – all of the teams are invited to get sponsorship for charity.

"Half of the money that a boat raises goes to the teams chosen charity and the other half goes to the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton Charitable Trust – it helps us to do our charity work.

"It is there to raise money for charity. It is a vehicle – but it does take an awful lot of setting up.

"We will be having our first meeting for the 2019 event event in the next two or three weeks. Himley have already got it in their diary for next year.

"It is quite a unique event for the area. It was a very successful day and we were just blessed with the weather."

The 350-yard race event, which involves teams competing in various heats throughout the day, has raised £360,000 over the years.

Leading up to the main race the Capgemini team were crowned winners of the minor final, with Jonahs Arc bagging 'fastest team of the day'.

But this year saw Hawkes Home Improvements team take the overall glory in the main event – tailed closely by Peter Posh Formal Suit Hire, raising money for the Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, and third place Jonahs Arc who were raising money for Compton Care.