A SUPER Saturday is promised at Bradford Dragonboat Festival after boats for the main day of the event have sold out.

Crossley Hall Primary School have become the 45th and final team to sign up for the event, held on a 200-metre-long course on the river at Roberts Park, Saltaire, on Saturday, May 6.

The Thornton Road school’s team, featuring teachers and staff, will take to the water as part of the test as part of the three-day event, held between May 5 to 7.

Each participating team will have 16 paddlers and one drummer, taking part in two round of heats. They will be racing against the clock, with the three fastest teams battling it out for the title in the day’s final. Crowds will be treated to entertainment including music, during the event.

Nafisa Bismilla, a member of Crossley Hall’s team, said: “It’s great for the school to be involved.

“We had a team take part last year but I have never done it before. I’m sure we will get support from our pupils on the day.”

Razwana Mahmood, team liaison for the event, said she was delighted the middle day of the event has sold out already.

She said: “It’s great to see people get on board with it. It’s absolutely brilliant to sell out on the Saturday.

“We want it to be successful and it is great that the community has got behind it already.”

A youth competition will get the festival under way on Friday, May 5, with teams of youngsters aged 11 to 19 taking to te water. It is free for schools to enter a team.

Participants on the first two days will be encouraged to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which this year is children and young people’s mental health charity Young Minds, which has been chosen by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid.

Companies have also been urged to sign up for a corporate team building event on Sunday, May 7, where workmates can compete against each other.

Each team will pay £2,000 which funds their participation, including boat hire and food. They can then raise money for any charity they wish.

Saturday’s races will also be shown live on big screens in both Roberts Park and City Park.

Companies have also been invited to sign up for sponsorship deals, including a platinum package worth £37,250.

Organisers are also looking to sign up a team of 150 volunteers to help run the event.

Teams and volunteers can sign up for the youth and corporate team building days at bradforddragonboatfestival.co.uk