TEAM spirit is essential, experience of dragon boats is not.

All-comers will enjoy this year’s dragon boat race in aid of Winchester Samaritans on Sunday.

The day’s racing at Winchester's Navigation Canal will see teams compete in 40 foot narrow boats, decorated with a Chinese dragon head and tail, and propelled by 16 paddlers kept in rhythm by a drummer.

There will be trophies for the top three crews, the best performing mixed crew, the crew raising the most money for charity, and the best dressed crew.