Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
STARK Building Materials hosted its fourth annual Dragon Boat Race at Draycote Water, raising £79,500 for Band of Builders and Whiteley’s Retreat.
The first event featured 180 participants and raised £30,000. Since then, the race has grown with an increasing number of suppliers and colleagues.
This year’s event featured 25 teams and 42 suppliers, with 470 participants from across STARK UK’s network including J P Corry in Northern Ireland, Norman’s of Jersey, STARK Denmark, Major Build Solutions, Jewson Partnership Solutions, and STARK’s regional teams from Wales and Central.
The day began with breakfast and coffee, followed by a series of round-robin races, a bake sale, raffle, and BBQ lunch. The final saw Team Ibstock Brick (the Clay Fired Dragons) win.
Richard Holland, category manager at STARK UK says: “This race is about far more than competition. It’s about bringing people together – colleagues, suppliers, friends – and creating a space where relationships can grow. Our industry thrives on connection, and events like this remind us that when we come together with a shared purpose, we can achieve incredible things.
“The energy, the laughter, the generosity; it all speaks to the strength of our community. We’re proud to support charities that do so much for others, and we’re equally proud of the culture we’re building at STARK UK – one that values people, partnership, and purpose.”
