FUNDRAISERS took to the water in dragon boats to raise cash for the Rockinghorse children’s charity.

Dozens took part in the colourful contest in Brighton Marina on Sunday.

The Brighton RNLI team was crowned winner of the tournament, with Priory Pirates and the Unsinkables coming second and third.

Crowds of spectators watched under deep blue skies as the colourful boats and paddlers battled it out.

Bryony Saunders, from Brighton-based internet company Dyn, which entered the Dragon Slayers team, said it was “a brilliant day out” adding a “big shout out” to everyone involved.

Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm of The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Brighton, and supports the Trevor Mann Baby Unit which is based at Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital. It has also recently started working with the Special Care Baby Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

The charity raises money for for life-saving medical equipment, and tries to make sure children are treated in environments best suited to their needs.

Last year’s dragon boat race raised more than £13,000 for the charity, with the tally from this year being counted as The Argus went to press.