Despite a rainy start to the morning yesterday (Sunday, 20 July), hundreds gathered in Canbury Gardens to enjoy the annual Kingston Dragon Boat Race.

Running from 10am – 2pm on Sunday, the event saw many teams, including some from Teddington, racing in three heats throughout the day to raise money for charity.

Among the racing teams was volunteers of Jon Egging Trust.

Speaking about why the team decided to participate in the race, one of the crew members said: "We're raising money for the Jon Egging Trust, which supports young people in education and helps to inspire them."

Locals set up a team to raise money for the Jon Egging Trust (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

The teams from Teddington included The Lensbury Dragon Boat team, which was raising money for local charity Ruils and a man from Teddington who joined the RAK-pack team to raise money for Refugee Action Kingston (RAK).

A man from Teddington joined the RAK-pack team (Image supplied)

Also participating in the race was the Kingston Rugby Club, which dubs itself as a "grassroots" club.

Kingston Rugby Club had a team participating in the race (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

The Tiffin Titans, an all-female crew, decided to participate in the race to raise funds for Tiffin Girl's school.

The crew consisted of mums whose children attend the school with two of them being veterans who row for the England team.

The Tiffin Titans had an all-female crew (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Another team involved in the race was raising money for Your Healthcare, which delivers high-quality and award-winning health and social care community services in Kingston Upon Thames, with learning disability and autism services also provided to residents of Richmond Upon Thames.

Your Healthcare delivers high-quality and award-winning health and social care community services in Kingston Upon Thames, with learning disability and autism services also provided to residents of Richmond Upon Thames (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Moreover, a group of locals of all ages and genders created a team to raise money for The Skye High Foundation, which helps families dealing with the loss of a baby who was part of a multiple birth. The charity, which supports neonatal units across the UK, US, Canada, and more, creates memory boxes for twins or triplets who lost one of their siblings during birth.

One team raised money for the Skye High Foundation (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Finally, The Pitch Perfect Paddlers, which involved members of the North Kingston Choir, was raising money for The Lullaby Trust while team Alexandra the Great was raising money for Kingston's Alexandra school.

Members of the North Kingston Choir participated in the race to raise money for The Lullaby Trust (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Team Alexander the Great raised money for Kingston's Alexandra school (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Throughout the day, the little ones were invited to enjoy a funfair, which set up camp in Canbury Gardens as well as classic fairground games, including Hook a Duck and Knock Cans.

The little ones enjoyed playing Knock Cans (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Other interactive stalls included a Rope Throw with the Teddington RNLI.

The Teddington RNLI set up stall (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Local charities and jewellery makers also set up stall for guests to browse, and food and drink stalls included a candy floss stall, The Park Brewery, Belgian chocolate covered strawberries, Surrey Ices ice cream van, pizza and burgers, and Luso Brazil Bakehouse.

It's Sweet set up stall (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

All in all, it was a wonderful day enjoyed by many.