Sapphire Water Dragons
On Sunday, September 21, the Nowra Waterdragons hosted a community dragon boat regatta which was a very special start to the new season of dragon boating.
In lovely spring sunshine Merimbula paddlers had a wonderful day at Grey’s Beach on the Shoalhaven River.
This was a beautiful site with excellent facilities for a community event.
The lovely grassy banks provided perfect viewing areas for spectators and for Club marquees.
The river area near the bridge was flat and wide.
The Sapphires/Zen team was a composite one with 18 of the Sapphire Water Dragons as paddlers, sweep and drummer in each race.
Three paddlers from the Zen Dragon Boat Club made up the team.
It was a special day of competition in the Sports Category where this team was the only one from far afield.
The others were Illawarra, Nature Coast and the hosts Nowra Waterdragons.
With our Far South Coast paddlers having just come out of winter hibernation it was a challenge to be ready for regatta competition. Three different sweeps took control of the boat in the three races that were contested and three different drummers kept paddlers in time.
It was also an opportunity to try different paddler placements in the boat each time.
Conditions on the river were challenging as the wind and drift towards the near bank proved difficult for both sweeps and paddlers, but everyone rose to the occasion.
The best performance was kept for the final where everyone gave of their best and the boat sped through the 200 metre course to achieve a fantastic second place result behind Nowra Waterdragons.
It was a battle with Nature Coast right to the finish line, so the Sapphires/Zen team was exhilarated to gain the second position.
This event also included 18 Corporate teams from local organisations such as TAFE, Hospital, Police, Nowra High, Westpac and St George.
They all had a great time, with competitive spirits being displayed in their ten races followed by finals.
Before the finals a great Cockatoo Cup race was contested between Nowra Waterdragons and the Nowra Rowing Club.
Two very different styles of paddling/rowing provided an interesting spectacle for those lining the banks.
The rowers were the victors on this occasion.
The Sapphire Water Dragons contingent travelled to Nowra on Saturday and stayed together at the nearby Culburra Beach Motel where Richard and Edith Worrell made them most welcome.
That night a free courtesy bus whisked everyone off to the Greenwell Point Bowling Club where a delicious Chinese Banquet was served.
This meant club members were refreshed and ready to race on Sunday morning.
This Shoalhaven River regatta at Nowra was a perfect start to yet another season of enjoyment for participants in the exciting sport of dragon boating.
It was a day full of friendship and team spirit for all who travelled from Merimbula and the Far South Coast area.
Everyone enjoyed being part of this composite team and Pat Helmore did a sterling job in her first regatta as Club Captain.
She was delighted to accept a wooden dragon trophy on behalf of the composite team, in reward for their second place in the final.
If you would like to become involved in the sport of dragon boating at either a social or sports team level then you are encouraged to come along and experience it at try paddling sessions.
For more information and to book a place in the boats please contact Mary Balmain, Paddling Coordinator of Sapphire Water Dragons on 6495 4109.
You will be made most welcome.
Local waterways are perfect venues for this fast growing sport.
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