THE Worcester Dragons capped a brilliant season with a superb performance at the national racing finals.

Dragons had already taken maximum points from eight meetings, securing promotion from the standard to the premier league.

They arrived at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham, determined to take a number of premier league scalps and set down a marker for next season.

Worcester did just that, reaching the open 500-metre cup final for the first time in several years and coming fifth overall with only four of the 12 premier crews finishing ahead.

Worcester’s second crew, the Dragonflies, also celebrated success, winning the open 500m bowl.

Dragons’ strength in depth means they can go into next season confident of continuing this year’s success, although they will be competing in the premier league for the first time since 2006.

Forty-seven paddlers travelled to the East Midlands to represent Worcester, including a number of under 18s who were a key part of the club’s success.

They joined up with paddlers from BA Barbarians to finish second in the under 18s 500m cup.

Three of them had represented Great Britain at junior level at the World Championships in Prague in August.

Also competing in Prague were eight Worcester paddlers representing their country at senior level.