Auckland Regional Dragon Boat Championship Regatta
Lake Pupuke 14th March 2020
We have been training very hard for this day, and all of a sudden, it's here. The forecast is good for the day, 16° getting to 22° - with a light SE breeze changing to an easterly for the 200m and then to a southerly for the 2km. This is good news, as we have seen some bad days on this lake. The first races are announced, and we are race 4, so we get ready to go, all warmed up. We have 2 heats of the 500m races, where we could be up against any of the teams, including the really fast ones - you know who I mean.
When we set up at the start, there are several ways of getting in a line, some more complex than others, but this time it is a standard - line up to the markers and go. This goes well for the first round, but our second heat was a false start, with technical issues. One of the boats got to the finish line without realising that they were being chased by the safety boat, frantically waiving a red flag for them to stop. We went in and let a couple more races go through, and then out again for heat 2.
We had a good race in the 500m final, and came third, with Can Survive first, Booboops second and Pink Dragons in fourth place. I think that the Pink Dragons have done so well to get a great team together, after not even competing last year when their numbers were so low. They have come back to challenge us another year! Well done ladies.
This was followed by the flower ceremony, always a moving and emotional time for everyone. All the
spectators stop to face the water, where all the BC survivors are rafted together, holding roses aloft, humming or singing to the music, most with tears streaming down their faces, all hugging whoever is close. In this we are all united. No teams, no rivalry - just emotion - for those lost (our paddling angels) for anyone who is suffering, for ourselves, having suffered, and joy that we have survived, and are doing what we love, with our BC family. The men on the lakeside then start a haka in our honour -- as respect for our courage. It always gives me goose bumps - I feel so humble and proud, and not worthy, I'm just doing something I love.
We move on .. the 200m heats. It felt good to be sprinting, trying different combinations of fast / power /reach (I’m not going to give away our secrets!) in the final it was the same order as before, with another
third place for us.
The 2km was the last event of the day, with three ‘flights’. We were in the first race, and were third off the mark - 15 seconds apart. This was a very eventful race, with us having to stop and being almost T boned, but
catching and overtaking the two boats in front of us. This is due to our very clever sweep, reaching every turn with the advantage - which means that no-one could overtake us. We seemed to fly down the last straight towards home, everyone joining in the screaming and yelling to get us to the finish line. We felt so good, just from the amazing effort we had put in. We had no idea of the results - even up to the time that it was announced at the prize giving that evening that we had won ...... GOLD!
Another fantastic day of fun, laughter and some incredible racing in there too.
Medal tally was: - BC division
2km Gold
500m Bronze
200m Bronze
Well done Busting with Life - All of us!
Sadly, this year, the Nationals which were to be held two weeks later, were cancelled due to the virus - COVID-19 so we didn't get a chance to try for more 'Bling'.
Next year we will have twice as much energy!!
Mac
