The challenge is for your team to paddle your dragon boat from Reading to Henley on Thames - a total distance of 10 miles.

Starting from Reading Rowing Club

Finishing at Henley Rugby Club

You are required to make your own way to and from the challenge.

If travelling by Train.

Main line train services from Paddington to Reading.

At the end of the challenge you can catch a train from Henley on Thames to Twyford and change at Twyford for either London Paddington or Reading.

If travelling by Car

Please consider car share between the start and end point. You are responsible for making your own arrangements.

If you decide that you wish to drive, there is a pay and display car park at Reading Rowing Club and also at Henley Rugby Club.

It will be your responsibility to get yourself from your parked car to the start point or back to your car at the end of the challenge.

We recommend light weight sports clothing of quick dry material, you are likely to get wet from the water being splashed into the boat - footwear will get wet.

Shorts / tracksuit

T-shirt / fleece

Soft soled shoes

light weight waterproof top and leggings

Sun hat & sun screen

Please avoid wearing cotton and denim fabrics at they hold the water and you will get cold very quickly once wet.

You will need to bring with you -

A water bottle with plenty of water in already (although there will be an opportunity to refill along the way.)

Small bag to go on board the dragon boat with you. We recommend you purchase a small dry bag (5L) for your snacks, sun hat, sun screen, waterproof, additional layer of clothing which can be strapped into the boat. (example on Amazon)

Closable kit bag (not an open carrier bag)- the following will need to go in it; a complete change of clothes, a towel, packed lunch.

If leaving your mobile phone please switch it off and put in your bag.

At registration we will provide you with a label to attach to your bag to identify your bag and which dragon boat you are in.

Your bag will be taken by our support vehicle and made available at lunch time.

Medication - if you have any medication that needs to travel with you, this can be put either in your dry bag or can be carried in the safety boat with our medic.

We strongly recommend that valuables including cameras and mobile phones are not taken in the dragon boats. However if you do take them, it is at your own risk.

We recommend that valuables are left at home.

Mobile phones can be switched off and put in your kit bag which will be transported by our support vehicle. - access to this will be at the lunch break.

Team Activity Group cannot take responsibility for any loss or damage to items.

Tea & Coffee will be available at Reading Rowing Club during registration.

We recommend that you have breakfast before you arrive, or bring some with you.

You should provide your own packed lunch, which should go in your kit bag and will be transported by our support vehicle.

You may wish to bring some supplementary snacks for the your challenge these can be taken on the dragon boat in a small sealable plastic bag.

At the end of the challenge Pizza will be available at Henley Rugby Club. Please make sure you have completed the dietary requirement on the information form. A cash bar will be available.

There will not be an opportunity to make any purchases during the challenge.

There will be an opportunity along the route to refill water bottles.

Reading Rowing Club will be open from 08:00

Registration will open at 08:15

All participants should individually register and collect a label for their kit bag.

Everyone in your team needs to be at Reading Rowing Club by 08:45

Team safety briefings will take place at 09:00. You can not take part in the challenge unless you attend your team safety briefing.

Lunch stop will be at approximately 12:45/13:00 for 1 hour

Finish time is estimated at about 16:00

Food will be served at 16:30 and a cash bar will be available.

You are welcome to stay at then Rugby Club for drinks until 19:00

Yes - we will go through 4 locks on the Challenge.

Caversham Lock

Sonning Lock

Shiplake Lock

Marsh Lock.

Team Activity Group staff will safely guide your boat through the locks and give you directions of what to do.

The boats will stay in the water through the locks, but there is an opportunity for participants to get out and have a leg stretch.

The Team Activity Group staff will be able to advise you which locks have public toilets and drinking water to refill water bottles.

There will be toilets available at the start, lunch stop and finish. One or two of the locks will also have toilets available.

You do not need any previous dragon boating or paddling experience to take part.

You should be reasonably fit and not vastly overweight for your height. - if you have any medical concerns about taking part, please take professional medical advice.

There will be 10 paddlers and a drummer on each boat.

In addition Team Activity Group will provide a helm to steer your dragon boat, and give you hints and tips on ‘how to make the boat go faster’

There is a possibility that a dragon boat may capsize, but at Team Activity Group this is a rare occurrence.

We ask that you listen to the instructions given to you by your dragon boat helm - (helms provided by Team Activity Group to steer your boat) and there should be no reason for your boat to capsize.

However because there is a small chance that they can capsize, we ask that everyone taking part can swim.

You will confirm on the application form that you are a confident swimmer and you will also be asked to sign a declaration form on the day of the event after your safety briefing.

Everyone taking part in the challenge, including Team Activity Group staff will be required to wear a buoyancy aid.

Buoyancy aids will be provided on the day of the challenge.

There will be 2 safety boats in attendance on the day.

There will be a medic who will travel in a safety boat.