REGISTRATIONS for next year’s Bradford Dragonboat Festival have opened today, with more than 40 per cent of places already set to be taken from pre-registration interest.

Teams can now sign up to take part in the oar-some three day event, which will run from Friday, June 21, to Sunday, June 23, next year at the usual venue of Roberts Park in Saltaire.

Entry is now open for the Saturday’s Lord Mayor Championships and the Sunday’s Multi-Charity Championships, but organisers have warned teams to sign up quick as the event is already showing at 41 per cent capacity through pre-registration interest.

Places are open on a first come, first served basis, so teams are urged to sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Registration for the Friday’s Youth Festival will open in the New Year, for schools across the district and further afield to sign up.

Next year’s festival will be the fifth staging of the event, which is the biggest of its kind in the UK.

Money raised by teams on the Friday and Saturday will go towards the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Zafar Ali’s two chosen charities, Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice and Nightstop Bradford.

Last year teams raised £60,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and their chosen charities, the most so far, and organisers are hoping next year will see this figure go even higher.

The team which raises the most money will also receive a prize for their fundraising efforts.

Last year, 98 teams took part over the three days, and many of the teams are expected to be returning to try and improve on last year’s results, or defend their title.

One new team taking part in next year’s festival will be a crew from BBC Yorkshire, which will include Bradford-born veteran Harry Gration and other radio and television presenters.

In this year’s festival, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service’s Red Phoenix team triumphed in one of the most closely-fought finals in the festivals history, with just two-hundredths of a second separating them and the second placed Provi-ducks team from Provident Financial.

In the Multi-Charity Championship, a team from the Great Britain Under 18s Dragonboat Team left the rest of the competition in their wake, romping home to victory in just 57 seconds, six seconds clear of second placed Yorkshire Warriors.

Appleton Academy was also named Youth Champions, ahead of Oastler Academy and Hanson School.

Thousands of people descended on Roberts Park earlier this year for the tournament, which was bathed in glorious sunshine.

Aside from the action on the River Aire, there is live music throughout the day, lots of food and drinks stalls, a large crafts market, plus plenty of children’s activities to keep the whole family entertained throughout the day.

For more information and to register your team for the 2019 festival, visit bradforddragonboatfestival.co.uk