In the senior category, the Leweston teacher/parent/student team—proudly rowing under the name 'The Leweston Blazing Paddlers'—delivered a thrilling performance, narrowly missing out on a place in the final by less than half a second, finishing a very respectable 5th overall.
In the youth category, Leweston shone even brighter. Both youth teams qualified for the final, demonstrating skill, speed, and teamwork throughout the day. In a dramatic twist, both Leweston youth teams raced each other just before the final and had to paddle back to the start line immediately—while their competitors had time to rest—before racing again in the final itself.
Despite the exhaustion, the teams dug deep. The Leweston Sixth Form Green Team stormed to a silver medal, finishing just ahead of the Leweston Blue Team (Years 7–10), who secured bronze. Impressively, the Green Team also recorded the fastest youth team time of the entire day—a fitting farewell for many of the Sixth Form students taking part in their final event with the school.
The event was more than just a competition—it was also a celebration of community spirit and a chance to support a good cause. This year, Leweston is proud to be raising money for Sherborne Food Bank, with a target of £1,000. Donations can be made via the school’s JustGiving page:
👉 Support Leweston’s fundraising for Sherborne Food Bank
A huge thank you goes to the organisers of the Sherborne Castle Country Fair and the Dragon Boat team for delivering a brilliant event.