Things are hotting up for the Welsh Dragonboat Championship at Llysyfran on Sunday, May 29, at Llysyfran.

This year, there are 18 teams. Three teams from local schools, Ysgol Dyffryn Taf and Ysgol Preseli, Ashmole Accountants are Oarsome Ashmole, Burns Building Company are the Haven Road Crew, Pembroke Power Station are powering their way up to Llysyfran again, Puffin Produce are the Panting Puffin Paddlers, Ocky White Travel are Ocky’s Dirty Oars, Family Fostering Partnership are entering for the first time, the runners-up last year and looking to win this year, are Full Bore, the fun team from The Eagle Inn, Narberth, Ieuan Griffiths Builders are the Osprey Challengers and Rotary District 1150 from South Wales The Evolutionaries.

There are two Valero teams, the Marauders and The Vikings, who no doubt will have an internal battle. Teams from last year returning, Adrian Llewellyn’s A Team and the Paul Sartori Slayers.

It is also a delight to welcome Carole John and the local Co-op team called Oliver’s Team, new this year, and finally, Bill Ridge and friends who won last year’s final, The Hill Billies.

“The pressure is mounting, we are excited to see so many teams again this year,” said Rotarians Steve and Carol Lewis, who have been this year’s race coordinators. “It promises to be another fantastic day out for race teams and the whole family, with free admission for children and free entertainment for them too. There will be bouncy castles, cup rides and Jugglestruck local children’s artist entertaining children all day.”

The theme chosen for 2016 as beneficiary of the Welsh Dragon Boat Championships is ‘Support for young people with the development of their Life Skills and Additional Learning.’ The club intends to address three stages of education and development.

Princes Trust Wales - with funding ‘to help 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed or struggling at school to transform their lives,’ secondary school aged pupils with funding for Life Skills and ALN (at two secondary schools), primary school aged children with funding for ALN (at 12 primary schools and two support groups).

The club believes that these three mutually compatible areas are deserving of its efforts and the contributions of its sponsors, without whom their work would be significantly diminished.

The Prince’s Trust Cymru supports 13-30-year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.

Many of the young people are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law. PTC programmes give them the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives.

The Princes Trust helps young people develop skills, prepare for work and improve their confidence, improving motivation and attendance at school, work out whether self-employment is right for them by helping them to test their ideas, write plans and start their own businesses, or achieve other goals in education, training, volunteering or work, overcome barriers and get their lives working, with cash awards and mentor support for those leaving care or prison. Also developing personal and social skills through residential schemes, group activities and tailored one to one support.

The Welsh Dragon Boat Championships will also raise funds for the two additional learning departments of two local schools, Ysgol Dyfryn Taf in Whitland and Ysgol Preseli in Crymych. They will also hope to involve approximately eight primary schools and two support groups in the immediate area with the same theme. Young people who need additional help in school have a huge battle and Rotarians feel that anything they can do to help them in their quest for success in a demanding job and skills market is worthwhile.

It promises to be a great fun, family weekend.