The River Thames was the place to be on 25 June as our much-loved annual dragon boat race returned—bringing together teams from some of the biggest names in tech for a fast-paced, high-energy day on the water.
Sixteen teams and more than 150 people from across Thames Valley Park took part, swapping laptops for paddles in the name of teamwork, friendly competition, and a well-earned afternoon away from their desks.
After a series of close heats, Pexip took the win for the second year in a row, holding onto their title in a tight finish. OpenText grabbed second place, with Allspace coming in third—just three seconds behind.
Also in the mix were teams from Microsoft, Northgate, Vistra, Oracle, HP, WSH, Knight Frank, David Lloyd, and others, all showing strong teamwork and plenty of competitive spirit throughout the day.
Of course, safety came first. Every team was fully briefed and wore life jackets, with support from the Wokingham Waterside Centre team to keep everything running smoothly and safely.
This race has become a standout event in our programme, encouraging everyone here to make the most of the riverside setting, take a break from screens, and get active outdoors.
It was also the first year that Mayar Elassar our Events and Community Engagement Manager, took the lead in organising the event—an experience that left a lasting impression.
“Now I can see why this event is such a favourite here,” said Mayar. “It had everything—competition, teamwork, a brilliant atmosphere, and a great excuse to get outside and do something different with colleagues.”
“Congrats again to Pexip for another win, but honestly, every team made the day what it was. It was great to see so many people connecting, cheering each other on, and enjoying the day together. We’re already looking forward to the next one.”
Thank you to everyone who raced, supported, and helped make this year’s event such a success—we’ll see you on the water again next year.
Catch the best moments from the race day in our highlight video here.
