A TEAM of dragon boat racers from Hamble took the plunge at the weekend as scores of novices tried out their newly-repaired vessel.

The chance to take to the water as part of a dragon boat crew was one of the wet and wild attractions on offer at Hamble Week's Sunday finale.

Members of the Sulis Hamble dragon boat team were delighted to see so many people trying out the sport off the riverside village's foreshore.

The rowers have spent the past year raising funds to repair their boat after vandals smashed it up, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage. And, while the boat's fibreglass head may have been absent for repairs, the sport proved a winner with both those taking part and those watching from the shoreside.

Team secretary Wendy Cooper said: "It's been a great day. So many people have wanted to try it out."

Elsewhere, visitors to the closing day of the village's summer spectacular were treated to a look over the BP Explorer, moored in the river fresh from its adventures in the BT Global Challenge.

Olympic silver medal-winning sailor Ian Walker was on hand the day before to launch the village's Come and Get Wet 2001 event.

The finale to Hamble Week gave youngsters the chance to try water sports, including sailing and canoeing.

For the more adventurous the event's infamous stepping stones were brought out to see who could successfully walk on water.

And to show everyone the fun of mucking about on the river, Hamble Sea Scouts put their kayaking skills on show.

Landlubbers were not forgotten however with shoreside entertainment including annual market day, pony and donkey rides, a full funfair and, of course, the obligatory bar for the adults.

Ian, who lives in Hamble and took time out from his newly-born daughter Zoe to open the event, was delighted to see so many enjoying the village's river connections.

He said: "It's a great chance to introduce all the kids to the river."

It was fun down on the farm for these children who made the most of the summer fair at the KIDS centre in Fareham.

The charity that supports disabled children and their families in Hampshire staged this year's event with a farmyard theme.

Even the side shows had a farming twist as dozens of children enjoyed pinning the tail on the piglet, making pig-shaped biscuits and even throwing fake cow pats!

A farmyard fancy dress competition provided the Mayor of Fareham, councillor Arthur Mandry, with the tough choice of picking a winner but in the end all the children received a prize for their efforts.

Organisers hope the event at the Salterns Lane centre will raise more than £1,000 for the charity that provides much-needed respite care and pre-school education for disabled children in the county.

Centre manager Marion Runalls said she was delighted with the number of people at the event.

She said: "All the organisation that goes into our fairs is a real team effort and it is just so good to see everyone enjoying themselves, it's been a great success."

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