SLEEK dragon boats raced  down the River Exe to the sound  of thumping drums in the second of seven national competitions this season.

The Dragon Boat Association  National League event saw 21  teams of 20 men and women  from across the country paddling 38ft dragon boats in high  speed competitions on Exeter’s  quay.

With drummers perched precariously on the edge of the  boats to mark out time for the  paddlers, crowds cheered as  teams raced towards the finishing line in  200m and 500m  heats.

Exeter’s home team, Exe-Calibre Dragon Boat Club, which is  currently ranked 10th in the  country, took on the challenge  after months of hard training  over winter

Exe-Calibre paddler Steve  Donohue, 22, a teacher from  Cullompton, has been with the  team since it formed in 2003.

He said:  “The best thing  about dragon boat racing is the  size of the team.  You have a  huge team of 20 people working  together and if any one person  is not working to the max, you  can’t win.

“It is exciting, it gets the  adrenaline pumping and is extreme teamwork.”

Exe-Calibre is also ranked  third in its 19-member league  and Steve said the 500m race  was the club’s best event.

“We have got two teams racing today and are looking to win  our league and get maximum  points,” he said.

“But it is all about enjoying  the event and everyone is doing  really well.”

The club, which has around  50 paddlers, is always looking  for new members.

“The more the better,” said  Steve.  “Anybody can join — any  age, size and ability.  Our  youngest member is 12 and we  have people in their 60s.  It is  more about technical skill than  strength or fitness.

“Exe-Calibre has really  grown in the last 12 months and  we just bought a new boat.  It is  very sociable.  We held a barbecue last night for all the clubs  in the competition, and we go  on paddling trips in different  places, like Venice and, closer  to home, the Grand Western  Canal.  It is good fun.”

Carrie Rye, 27, from Exwick,  is a research scientist at university and joined Exe-Calibre  four months ago.  She competed  yesterday in the club’s scratch  team.

“It is fantastic, it is really  good fun,” she said.  “It is a good  way to keep fit, really sociable  and you have a chance to race.

“Even when the weather is  bad everyone is in good spirits.   Despite being cold and wet we  are all happy and there are  smiles on everyone’s faces.

“There is a great atmosphere  and  all the crews are very enthusiastic.  It is competitive but  it is friendly competition.”