Railey Realty’s Blazing Paddles team earned first place at the 2026 Mountain Maryland Dragon Boat Festival, marking our fifth consecutive victory at this fun and meaningful Garrett County event.
The annual festival was held at Broadford Lake in Mountain Lake Park and brought together local businesses, organizations and community members for a day of friendly competition. Teams raced dragon boats along an approximately 200-meter course, working together to keep their paddling synchronized from start to finish.
Jon Bell was back in the boat paddling for Railey Realty, while Mike Fenton served as the team’s drummer at the front of the boat, helping everyone stay in rhythm throughout the races.
Winning five years in a row is something we are proud of, but the most important part of the day was supporting the Dove Center. Proceeds from the Mountain Maryland Dragon Boat Festival help the organization provide vital services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and related crimes.
We would also like to give a special thank-you to Penny Sanburn of Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing, LLC. Penny invested a tremendous amount of time and effort into coordinating the races, organizing the teams and helping the entire event run smoothly. Her work helped create an exciting day for the community while raising money and awareness for an important local cause.
Railey Realty would like to thank every member of the Blazing Paddles team who trained, paddled and helped us earn another first-place finish. We also appreciate everyone who came out to cheer on the teams, along with the organizers, volunteers, sponsors and community members who supported the festival.
Events like the Mountain Maryland Dragon Boat Festival are a great reminder of what makes Garrett County and the Deep Creek Lake area such a special place. Our community knows how to come together, have fun and support the organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of local residents.
Congratulations to the entire Railey Realty Blazing Paddles team—and thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s festival another success!