THIS year’s festival will see a number of familiar faces return to take part in the competition, along with plenty of fresh faces.

With three different championships taking place across the weekend, there were plenty of chances for new teams to join in with the UK’s largest dragonboat festival, with many local groups, schools, and businesses signing up.

There will also be many festival regulars returning to Roberts Park, such as the fire service, Army, and last year’s winners, Provident.

One team who will be returning this year is the instantly recognisable paddlers from Saltaire Brewery.

Donned in the brewery’s eye-catching cycling jerseys, the team are a fixture of the festival, always bringing a team of enthusiastic paddlers who provide plenty of energy both on the water and on the banks cheering on their fellow competitors.

They only narrowly missed out on a place in the finals in 2017, and will be hoping to go one better this time round.

Ewen Gordon, managing director at Saltaire Brewery, said: “Last year we were just pipped to the finishing line to compete in the final rounds so this year we’re back with a vengeance and gunning to make it all the way!

“We’re an active bunch and brewing is no mean feat so we’re feeling fit, well and ready to get back in the boat.

“Rowing proudly under the brewery name, it will be a great day out for the team and we’re going to have lots of supporters there too.

“We’re really looking forward to lifting our paddles once more while raising money for the two brilliant charities – bring it on!”

Another team returning to the festival this year is Christeyns Cruisers, from local chemical manufacturer Christeyns.

This year’s team has set itself a target of raising more money for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal than any Christeyns team before it, to write themselves into “Christeyns folklore”.

Donna Bolton, team captain, said: “Our team, ‘The Christeyns Cruisers’, and is made up of a diverse group of ‘semi-willing’ volunteers from across the Christeyns organisation, all with very little dragonboat experience.

“All those that survive the experience are hoping to enjoy the day but more importantly raise a healthy total for two very worthy local causes.

“We’re delighted to be taking part in this year’s event, we may not be the fastest or most practised team in the world, but we’ll make up for that with our effort, passion, smart kit and ability to swim if it all goes pear shaped.”

New to the festival this year is children’s charity Barnardo’s, which is entering two boats in the Multi Charity Championship on Sunday.

Around 40 members of staff from the charity will be taking to the water in its two boats, which have been named Storm Fly, and Horrendous Haddock III.

Matt Beer, from Barnardos, said: “The charity runs several services in Bradford working with almost 2,000 children and young people in all the city’s communities.

“The Festival is a great opportunity to get people from all of those teams together to have fun and raise money for vulnerable children and young people.”

On Friday, school students from across the district will be taking part in the Youth Championship, with 25 teams taking part.

One of the festival’s major sponsors, Whitestone Solicitors, also paid for the Great Britain under 18s dragonboat team to come to the festival and take part.

A Whitestone spokesperson said: “The festival ticks all the boxes; youth engagement, active lifestyles, and community cohesion. We are proud to be associated and what a fantastic way to give back.”