London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2007. "The Final"

For both club teams and charity crews, this was "The BIG One" and the teams were leaving nothing to chance as they limbered up for their race.

The goal: To become overall champions on this extra special occasion.

The fags fluttered proudly as the wind blew fiercely up the course and in the distance the six boats lined up together.

GO!

From left to right, the Open Charity Novice finalists were:

Mushu Accenture Hurricane Tigers Swat Yi Ban HK Titans

Right from the outset, the Yi Ban (in boat 4), Swat (boat 3)and The Hurricane Tigers in boat 2 power ahead. Just five seconds has separated these three teams over the day – but in a final, anything can happen.

When you are stood on the finish line looking up the course, it is so difficult to tell who is in the lead ...

The gruelling pace soon takes its toll on

HK Titans as they start to fall behind the race leaders ...

With the HK Titans tiring in the distance, the crews of Accenture in boat 2, Hurricane Tigers in boat 3, Swat in boat 4 and the Yi Ban in boat 5 battle it out, their helms trying to extract every ouch of advantage out of the water to help their team win.

Even here it is still neck and neck between the four boats.