TEAMS have battled it out on the water today as part of this year's Bradford Dragon Boat Festival.

Roberts Park in Saltaire was a hive of activity as crowds of spectators soaked up the sun, enjoyed the atmosphere and cheered teams on, while competitors geared up for their races.

The festival kicked off yesterday with the Youth Championships, which saw teams of children of all ages and abilities representing schools from across the district, as well as some from further afield in the UK.

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The schools event was held during the morning under glorious blue skies on the River Aire, while a second round of racing was held in the evening for youth groups.

Today, 45 teams went head to head in the Lord Mayor's Championship in a bid to win the biggest prize of the weekend.

In the Grand Final, Yorkshire Warriors took top spot, with Forti's Force and Hashmi's Heroes taking second and third place.

The Lord Mayor’s Championship raises money for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. Money raised this year will be donated to Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice and Bradford NightStop.

Many well known names from across the district entered teams into the festival. The Telegraph & Argus had a team, as did BBC Look North and The Pulse radio station.

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The fire service's Red Phoenix team made a bigger splash than intended when its boat capsized.

A rescue craft was on hand to assist and the army team also jumped in to help them out.

Lots of other Bradford businesses and organisations were also represented and hundreds more people are due to take part in tomorrow's Multi Charity Championship.

A huge twelve teams will row for the Bradford Hospitals' Charity, including the 'Waste Warriors'.

The aptly-named team is made up of staff from Bradford Council's waste services and colleagues from Associated Waste Management and they are aiming to raise at least £2,500 for the hospital charity's cancer fund.

It's hoped the money will go towards refurbishing some of the areas in the chemotherapy day case unit and ward areas used by cancer patients.

Bradford Dragonboat Festival is well established as the biggest event of its kind in the UK, and one of the biggest in Europe.

Across the weekend, 130 teams and 2,600 participants are due to take part.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, John Galt, chief of Bradford Dragonboat Festival, said: "We've got to be pleased with how it's going - you can only look outside and you see all the people who are turning up.

"It has been well supported. Last night was amazing, the first time we have ever done the nighttime event for the youth."

He said it was going to be an "amazing year" and hinted that it will go "bigger and better" next time.

Razwana Mahmood, one of the organisers, added: "The weather has really improved over the last couple of days, particularly for our festival, so lots of people are coming out.

"But it's popular anyway - it doesn't matter what the weather is, people love to come to the event.

"It's the variety of people. We've got little ones, we've got senior citizens, we've got people from every nationality you can think of."

She added: "The whole dragon boating community internationally is hearing about us.

"We are the largest in the UK, we keep saying that, but it's not just us, its the dragon boat association that have said that.

"Team GB under-18s participate all over the world and they said this is the best one.

"It's a little bit different. It's not just that it's a sporting event, it's a fun event, but it's about the community actually participating, planning it, delivering it."

Razwana said the the event showcases the best of Bradford - and Yorkshire spirit.

"Absolutely fantastic," was the verdict from Louise Clarke, centre manager at Doe Park Water Activities Centre and coach at Bradford Barracudas Dragon Boat Club.

She said teams are getting faster every year and added: "It gets the community down watching, but also the teams are raising money for charity and actually doing something that is really enjoyable, they're all buzzing every time they get off the boat."

Louise said the sport is also being developed in Bradford, as some people who have gone up through Bradford are now in the GB under-24s squad.

Take a look through our gallery of pictures from the festival.