But the assets management company joined hands with long-time organisers - the Stanley Residents Association (SRA) - and this year's event will go ahead.

Director of Circus Capital, Paul Robinson, says the event has huge potential. 'It's already intensely competitive and colourful, but we can build on that and add extra things,' says Robinson who will take part in his sixth championship this year, paddling for expatriate team the Sea Gods.

'It's all about planning, planning, planning. The SRA already do a great job, but don't have so much time for the marketing side,' says Robinson of the event which features more than 130 Chinese and expatriate teams in the 300 metre races held at Stanley's main beach.

While the SRA focuses more on administration, the sponsor has brought it's expertise to improving the competition programme, developing the Web site and producing posters and banners for advertising.

They've also hired a professional television company to film the races so that they can produce a video to promote next year's event.

The post-race street party hosted by RTHK will also be pumped up.

'We've organised some surprises for Wednesday, but next year you'll see an even bigger difference. We'll set up a big screen television on the street so the teams can watch themselves and laugh at or admire their performances. It was a bit short notice to organise that this year.'

According to Robinson about 20,000 spectators are expected to visit this year's races at Stanley. Another plan for future events is to expand the grandstand. 'We want to improve the experience for teams, as well as the facilities for spectators on the day.

'Its a very multicultural event and we want to enhance that.'

The championships are a major social affair for up to 3,000 participants ahead of the actual race, and most teams began training three months ago.

Champion bragging rights are more coveted than ever. The competition format changed last year, so that elite Chinese and expatriate teams clash in an end-of-the day title decider - The Stanley Cup.

'The expatriate teams have improved. It's going to be a close contest,' says James Weingaertner captain of The Buzz team.

To win the cup, The Buzz will have to outperform, among others, the Stanley Dragon Boat Team and Lee Kum Kee - last year's top Chinese teams, and fierce expat rivals the British Dragons and the Japanese Club.

'It's tough to say who will win - anything can happen. But I think willpower is key. The team which wants the victory most has the best chance,'says Weingaertner.

The American Women's Association are strong contenders in the Ladies' Cup, but face tough competition from the Bondi Diggettes and Lamma Dragons.

FIND A RACE NEAR YOU:

(All races on June 4)

Aberdeen Dragon Boat Race

Seafront of Aberdeen promenade (8am-5pm)

Stanley Dragon Boat Cham-pionships 2003

Stanley Main Beach (8am-6pm)

Sha Tin Dragon Boat Race

Shing Mun River (8am-noon)

Tai Po District Dragon Boat Race 2003

Seafront of Tai Po Waterfront Park (8.30am-1pm)

Tuen Mun District Dragon Boat Race

Castle Peak, typhoon shelter, Tuen Mun area 44 (8.30am-12.45pm)

Cheung Chau Dragon Boat Race

Seafront off Pak She, Cheung Chau Island (10am-5.30pm)

Lantau Island

Mui Wo Dragon Boat Race

Waterfront of Tung Wan, Mui Wo (9am-4pm)

2003 South Lantau Dragon Boat Race 2003

Pui O Beach (9am-1pm)

2003 Tai O Tuen Ng Festival Dragon Boat Race, Tai O, Tai Chung River (9am-5pm)