Records were smashed at the KM Dragon Boat race on Sunday when £75,000 was raised for good causes.

Thirty eight teams from Kent and Medway raced the dragon at Mote Park, Maidstone, blowing last year’s figure of 23 teams out of the water. They raised funds for more than 30 charitable organisations including Oliver Fisher Baby Care Trust, Canterbury Food Bank, Pipeline Youth Initiative, Maidstone Community First Responders, Headway East Kent Head Injury Support, Kent Area Ambulance, Demelza, Special Needs Advisory and Activities Project (SNAAP) and Cancer Research UK.

As well as the thrill of the races, spectators enjoyed a Family Fun Day at the park, which included activities for children, charity stalls and food and drink.

A film crew from Meridian was on hand to capture Olympian Etienne Stott, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist for canoe slalom, as he joined the Hi Kent Buccan-Ears dragon boat team to raise funds for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Mr Stott said: "I had a really good day. The Hi Kent team made me feel welcome and we really got into the spirit of things. It was quite exciting to get the boat moving so fast and to be involved in some very close races. It was great to see so many people enjoying themselves and being active in the outdoors.

"My wife who was brought up near Canterbury (and is GB Women's whitewater rafting team) thought it was good to see so many people trying a new sport and raising such a large amount of money for good causes."

The KM Dragon Boat Race came to a head at the end of the day with the fastest teams competing for the top spot. Blatch and Green, who were supporting Cancer Research UK, beat the competition to claim victory for the third year in a row.

Second place went to Qualitree Services, Pirates Strumpet came third and Team Sedley took fourth place.

The Blatch and Green team collected the champions’ trophy and medals presented by Stuart Clarke of Mote Park Water Sports Centre and Martin Vye, chairman of the KM Charity Team.

Crew member Whitstable-based Rich Blatchford was delighted with their win. “I’m ecstatic – we’ve got the hat trick!” he said.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “We knew this year’s event would be something special but this was more than we could have hoped for and has smashed last year’s record for charity fundraising.”

Event organiser Dominic Comins was delighted with the unprecedented number of competitors and impressive visitor turnout on the day.

He said: “Our dragon boat teams gave it their all for their chosen charities and were encouraged by a fantastic crowd of supporters cheering them on. It was one of the most exciting events we’ve held.”

Mr Comins thanked event sponsors Mote Park Water Sports Centre and Specsavers. “Without their generous support it would not be possible to stage major events such as these and be in a position to help so many wonderful charities,” he said.

The KM Dragon Boat Race is a regular fixture of the summer, taking place every year on the first Sunday in July. Mr Dolby urged organisations to support next year’s event to make it even bigger and better. “Sponsorship packages begin at just £500 and in return sponsors receive media coverage by the KM Group to publicise their generosity,” he said.

Daniel Windsor, operations director of hosts Race the Dragon, said: “We’ve worked with the KM Charity Team on this event for the last five years and this was by far the largest and most successful event.”

He added: “Dragon boat racing is a very social activity and a great team builder. People really throw themselves into it and by the end of the day they can come in with quite impressive times.”

For the full list of race times, visit www.kmcharitychallenge.co.uk. Organisations interested in sponsoring next year’s event should contact Mr Dolby on sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291.