On Sunday 25 May 2025, Zink’s recovery team proudly represented Derbyshire at the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford Quays, the largest event of its kind in Europe. Despite limited access to water for training, the team delivered an impressive performance, finishing ahead of major competitors including Adidas and Manchester City FC.
The festival drew hundreds of spectators and was attended by high-profile guests including the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, and Salford’s Mayor, Paul Dennett. Zink’s team was one of 44 selected to compete, having signed up for the challenge in September 2024.
In preparation, the team trained creatively in the car park outside Zink HQ in Buxton, using chairs and sticks to simulate paddling. They had one water-based practice session at Debdale Reservoir, coached by the Manchester Dragoneers—a team of breast cancer survivors.
On race day, strong winds added to the challenge. Zink’s boat was second out of the dock and had to stabilise quickly at the starting line. Despite a nearby capsize by the HSBC team, Zink’s paddlers stayed focused and finished with a time of 62.61 seconds, just behind Hainan Airlines. This placed them 20th out of 44 teams.
The team’s determination and teamwork were a powerful reflection of the recovery journey—and a proud moment for Derbyshire. Their participation in this national event highlights the strength of local recovery communities and the spirit of celebration that Recovery Month embodies.
The RISE project supports people in recovery into jobs, education or training.
Their qualified work coaches will help you identify what sort of work you want then take the necessary steps to get you there. It’s all at your own pace and meetings can take place local to you. There’s even the opportunity of a paid micro job to get you started.
Zink HQ is in Buxton and offer outreach in Glossop, New Mills and Bamford.
To access Zink, get in touch with Paul or Jane: Paul@zink.org.uk , jane@zink.org.uk or telephone Zink HQ on 01298 – 214926
