OVER £8,500 has been raised for charities and good causes thanks to the Welsh Dragon Boat Championship 2017. Organised by the Rotary Club of Narberth and Whitland, the lively event at Llysyfran attracted 14 teams from all over Pembrokeshire. Generous sponsorship was provided by Hywel Griffiths & Sons Ltd, Folly Farm and Care in Hand, together with a host of advertisers. The focus of this year's fundraising was local mental health, and representatives of groups and charities each received cheques from £500 by Rotary president Mary Adams at a presentation evening at the Hotel Plas Hyfryd, Narberth. They were the Taf QT dementia club in Whitland; Narberth's Living Memories group, which is based at Narberth Museum; Pembrokeshire MIND; Hafal; the Adlerian Counselling Service and Cwm Seren, Carmarthen. St John Ambulance received £200 in thanks for their presence at the championships; Fishguard and Goodwick Sea Cadets, who marshalled the car park were presented with £150 and the Army, who also supported the event, were given £150 for forces mental health charity Combat Stress. The evening marked the end of a very successful year in office for president Mary, who has now handed over the chain of office to David Haward. One of her final duties was to present a cheque in aid of the Ray Gravell and Friends Charitable Trust to rugby legend Derek Quinnell. The money was raised by a raffle held when Derek came to speak to the club. Next year's Dragon Boat Championship is on course to be another success, with the sponsors' promise to continue their financial backing and nine of the 2017 teams already signing up again.