THE Great York Dragon Boat Challenge on the River Ouse last Sunday was a wonderful spectacle and a fantastic day out. St Leonard's Hospice thanks everyone who had any part to play in its success.

We are grateful to the Rotary Club of York for setting up the event to support St Leonard's, and for the impeccable way in which they organised the day.

It was a mammoth task, which they undertook with enormous enthusiasm and goodwill.

Thank you, too, to York City Rowing Club for their help; to The Organisation Limited, professional dragon boat racing specialists, who provided and steered the vessels and ensured safety on the day; to British Waterways and City of York Council for help with using the river and its banks and, last but not least, all those companies who generously sponsored the event and those who ran stalls and provided entertainment on the day.

The rowing teams worked so hard to make the contest so exciting and enthralling.

We hope the money you helped raise for us, and for the other charities is some reward for the aching muscles and, for the unfortunate few, the ducking in the River Ouse!

Thank you one and all.

Janet Morley,

Fundraising Manager,

St Leonard's Hospice

Tadcaster Road,

York.

Updated: 11:25 Saturday, July 19, 2003