THIS year’s Marymass Dragon Boat Race has been cancelled, the Times can reveal.

Organisers say the event will definitely not be going ahead this year due to ‘a number of factors’.

It’s the latest blow to the Harbourside Festival after it was revealed two weeks ago that the Marymass Fireworks and Torchlit Parade would be moved back to the Moor.

In 2012 the Marymass Festival Committee made the decision to move the Friday night Torchlit parade and fireworks display to the Harbourside - a decision which upset many.

But after three years, organisers decided to move it back to its traditional location in the hope that more people will be able to enjoy the display.

Now the Times has learned that the Dragon Boat Race has been cancelled altogether in a second blow to the Harbourside events.

Ian Dickson, past president of the Seagate Rotary and former organiser of the Dragon Boat Race said ‘a number of factors’ contributed to the decision to scrap the race, namely that organisers just weren’t sure if there would be enough teams taking part or enough interest and footfall down at the Harbour this year.

He told the Times: “The group of us who organised it for the first three years have decided not to proceed this year.

“One reason being that we do not have a local organisation to be the lead organiser. The first two years that responsibility was taken on by the Seagate Rotary Club and the third year by the Water Sports Club.

“Secondly, we were not sure we would get the minimum number of teams needed. The first couple of years we had 15 teams - which is the minimum, but last year we only got 13.

“Each one of those teams needs to raise £450, which for some charity organisations is quite difficult to do, so that was also an issue.

“We were also not sure how much was going to be done down at the harbourside during this year’s festival and without the same number of supporting events it simply doesn’t have the same draw.”

Chair of the Marymass Festival Committee, Pat McPhee said she would be sad to see the Dragon Boat Race go, but could under stand the decision.

She said: “I can see why this has happened. it’s a very big event to pull off and I know in recent years it hasn’t been as easy for them.”

But Ian says all hope is not lost and the decision is ‘by no means permanent’. 

He told the Times: “It won’t be happening this year, but that is not to say that it will never happen again. Maybe we can look at things again next year and see where we are. This is by no means a permanent decision.”

The Times understands the traditional Forth Port Parade will still take place.