Making Waves at the 2025 Canary Wharf Dragon Boat Festival
The London Docklands came alive with competitive spirit and charitable purpose as Evolution's crew took to the water at the 2025 Canary Wharf Contractors Fund Dragon Boat Festival. Against a field of 30 teams, our ten-strong squad proved that determination and teamwork can overcome even the steepest learning curves.
Rising to the Challenge
Led by Captain John Squires, our intrepid team—Sam Burgess, Amy Kavanagh, Paul Holloway, Jack English, Jonathan Kenny, Chay Ward, Andy Deakin, George Cooper, and Peter Kidd—approached the challenge with remarkable enthusiasm. What made their performance truly exceptional? They achieved competitive times against some seasoned teams despite having almost no prior training.
The day saw multiple time-clocked races with teams battling not just against each other but against the clock, all while supporting an incredible cause. Though the trophy ultimately went to new champions Briggs & Forrester Living (ending Electrical & Mechanical Services' long-standing reign), our Evolution team's performance was nothing short of inspiring.
More Than Just a Race
The Dragon Boat Festival represents something far greater than sporting achievement. This year's event brought together the construction community to support eleven remarkable charities:
London's Air Ambulance
Spread a Smile
Lighthouse Construction Charity
Variety Children's Charity
Demelza
First Step
Cardboard Citizens
St Joseph's Hospice
Felix Project
Roald Dahl's Children's Charity
Construction Youth Trust
For the first time, representatives from these charities participated directly in the event, creating powerful awareness of where the funds raised make a real difference in our communities.
Team Spirit at Its Finest
The sight of our Evolution crew pulling together in perfect synchronisation, paddles cutting through the water in unison, embodied everything we stand for as a company. Their ability to compete so effectively without extensive preparation speaks volumes about their adaptability, determination, and collaborative spirit – qualities that define Evolution's approach to every challenge we face.
As the CWCF Committee noted, the day was filled with "happy faces" and tremendous community spirit. The pictures from the event tell the story: focused determination during the races, jubilant celebrations afterward, and throughout it all, the knowledge that every stroke of the paddle was helping to support vital charitable work.
Looking Forward
Events like the Dragon Boat Festival remind us that success isn't always measured in trophies. It's found in the courage to take on new challenges, the strength of pulling together as one team, and the satisfaction of contributing to causes that matter.
To our magnificent ten who represented Evolution with such distinction: you've made us all incredibly proud. Your performance on the water reflected the values we champion every day – teamwork, perseverance, and community spirit.
We are already looking forward to next year's challenge. With this year's experience under our belts, who knows what we might achieve? But regardless of future results, one thing is certain: Evolution will continue to show up, give our all, and support the incredible work of the Canary Wharf Contractors Fund.
Thank You
A special thanks to the CWCF Committee and the entire organising team for creating such a memorable event that brings our industry together for such worthy causes. Your dedication to combining competition with compassion makes our community stronger.
Here's to our Dragon Boat heroes, to the spirit of friendly competition, and to making a difference, one paddle stroke at a time.