1st place/Gold Dragon Boat Race winners: Rick Cox Construction Dawn Treaders.
Image by f32 Photos.

KNOXVILLE -- Those in need who come to Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) for help were the big winners at the 2013 Knoxville Dragon Boat Festival, which attracted thousands to the Cove at Concord Park on June 22 for high intensity boat races, music, and family fun.

This year’s fundraising goal to help those in need through life-saving programs and services at KARM was $200,000, to be raised by sponsorships and team and individual team member fundraising efforts. To date, the event has surpassed its goal, raising over $251,000, and doubling last year’s total of $125,000.

“The energy and enthusiasm were at record levels this year,” said Danita McCartney, KARM Director of Events. “Teams from all over the community rallied together collectively to help surpass the fundraising goal. Thank you so much to everyone who participated.”

Over 62 teams, more than ever before, competed in racing 41-foot Hong Kong style boats across the water on Loudon Lake at the Cove in the eleventh year of the event.

This year’s KARM Dragon Boat Festival winners by category are:

Overall race winners:
• 1st place/Gold: Rick Cox Construction Dawn Treaders - time 1.084 sec
• 2nd place/Silver: Highlanders - time 1.0925 sec.
• 3rd place/Bronze: StrataG Force - time 1.0953 sec.

Category specific winners by best times:
• Community Non-Profit: Highlanders
• Bank/Financial: Pugh CPAs
• Manufacturing: Threds Dragon Slayers
• Hospital/Medical: KOCSC Orthopedos
• Engineering/Architecture: Rick Cox Construction Dawn Treaders
• Media/Communications: Cumulus Radio Survive-Oars

Top three fundraising team winners:
1. StrataG
2. Rick Cox Construction
3. Star Construction

Category prize winners:
• Best Drummer: WBIR Rowback Throwbacks
• Best Team Spirit-NHCYaa
• Best Team Name: Sword Phishing (Sword and Shield)
• Best Tent: Master Custom Home Builders
• Best Team T-shirt: Cumulus Radio Survive-Oars

Additional winners included top individual fundraisers and other categories.

The presenting sponsor was StrataG. Additional sponsors were WIVK-FM, Newstalk 98.7, The Sports Animal, WBIR-TV, Lamar Outdoor, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Rick Cox Construction, Publix, Regions Bank, Lisa Price Photography, Pilot Flying J, Rita’s Italian Ice, and U.S. Foods.

For additional information about this year’s Knoxville Dragon Boat Festival visit www.karm.org/dragonboats or Facebook.com/Knox Area Rescue Ministries.