Kingston Royals Dragon Boat Club celebrated its 21st birthday in style on Sunday by being crowned national champions in Nottingham, writes Simon Blackburn.

Royals won the national women’s title for the seventh time in eight years as well as winning the mixed championship while their second crew, the Kingston Pretenders, won the plate competition.

It followed a frustrating Saturday in which the club had been leading the 200m sprint plate and women’s competitions until gale force winds forced racing to be cancelled.

“It’s the perfect birthday present and just reward for our members who have trained so hard this summer,” said Club chairman Stephen Lewis. "In the last year we have concentrated on increasing the number of qualified coaches in the club, and have also invested in a new clubhouse and gym facility, and it's great to see our efforts bearing fruit."

The only competition which remained outside the club’s grasp was the Open Cup competition, where the crew finished third, just two seconds behind winners Amathus DBC from Liverpool.

Captain Peter Langworth said: “We were two seconds away from a hat trick and that will be the target next year.” said Captain Peter Langworthy.

The Teddington-based club now attention now turns to the gruelling series of winter time trials held every month on the Thames at Henley. The Club is also running a series of open mornings for new paddlers; details are at www.kingstonroyals.com