On a glorious sunny evening West Cumbria Canoe Club and Derwentwater Marina hosted Cumbria’s fifth annual Tiger Boat Challenge on Derwentwater. Six of Cumbria’s canoe clubs were represented. In total seven teams took part (70 paddlers) and close to 100 people were there on the night.

Teams were drawn from right across Cumbria, including Sedbergh, Carlisle, Penrith, Duddon and Copeland.

Tiger Boats are like Dragon Boats but are slightly more stable. They take a crew of 10 paddlers and a helm.

Derwentwater Marina provided the boats and safety cover, as well as the stunning venue, which is also home to West Cumbria Canoe Club.

Racing Tiger Boats requires a quick start, with teamwork, balance, coordination and hard graft essential. Each of the teams races twice, with the fastest two making the final, with races thick and fast to pack them into the two hours before sunset.

The team to beat were holders Penrith, who had two strong teams, but in the end their top team fell foul of the requirement to include a junior and missed the final due to the resulting penalty.

In the final West Cumbria just slid past a muscular Carlisle boat in the final 10 metres of the race to bring the trophy home for only the second time in the history of the event.

Pete Knowles, who organises the event, said: "It is always great to see so many local paddlers and clubs coming together to have a great evening of fun on the water.

"This event is now a regular annual fixture for all the clubs in Cumbria, and as such we have chosen to rename the event in honour of Jim Wilson to recognise the exceptional contribution he made to canoe sport in Cumbria."