Dragon Boats

Quite a few members of HHCC as part of their paddling repertoire are Dragon Boat racers and train at the club. They use the gym and roar up and down the canal in O1's (and other craft). We have quite a few who are international and are in the British Squad. They include: Al (UnC) Farrance; Mark Jurassic Petersen; Chris Preston; Mickey Doyle and Rob Crowley. They can be recognised by their jockey like build and dainty demeanor! Plus ladies: Christine Farrance and Julie Doyle.

They mainly race with the local Batchworth Dragons club, for more details follow the link!

O1's are a sort of kayak proa - a K1 with a little outrigger as in this picture of Chris Preston.

2008 Update
In early September 2008 Shirine and Chris 'Powerhouse' Preston will be competing as members of the GB Dragon Boat squad at the European Championships in Rome in the Premier Ladies and Premier Men's teams respectively.  Dragonboating is a competitive sport at international level and the GB teams will face keen competition from countries such as Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Sweden and of course, the host Italians.  Dragonboating is a sprint discipline, and racing takes place over 200m, 500m, 1000m and 2000m courses. There are 20 paddlers to a boat, with a drummer at the front beating time, and the helm at the back steering. For more about the GB ladies, see here.

Sprint kayak training is in fact ideal preparation for dragonboating and if you see Shirine and Chris hammering it out in their K1s on the canal, feel free to join in!!

A results update to follow in September...

 

 

Some action picture of the 2004 World Champoinships in South Africa. Includes HHCC heros Mark Jurassic Petersen, Mickey Doyle and Al (UnC) as featured above left.