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Teams:
| Open |
| Abreast of Life |
| CPC Canterbury Dragons |
| Fei Long - The Next Generation |
| Give it a Go |
| Sampan Warriors |
| Tu Meke |
| Corporates |
| Airways Paddlateers |
| Beca Crewsaders |
| CCC Cruisers |
| Evacut Express |
| Corrections (Screws Loose) |
| Schools |
| Avonside Girls HS |
| Christchurch Girls HS |
| Marian College |
| Riccarton High School |
| St Margarets College |
| Villa Maria |
| Shirley Boys High School |
| St Bedes |
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The "Early Bird" - 2009
Aoraki ran the "Early Bird" Dragon Boat Regatta on Saturday 21-Feb-09, a little later than previous years so that Schools will also be in a position to compete. We have eight Schools enrolled plus 11 adult teams.
Racing was again at Kerr's
Reach in Dallington, over 500m distance. Teams started gathering from 10:30 am, setting up despite light drizzle. Formal procedings for the day started a little after 11:30 with a Captain's briefing at Race HQ (a new concept for Aoraki - a caravan between the tent sites and the pontoons).
Then a Lion Dance Troupe
delighted the crowd, followed by an extremely moving launch of our fleet of new IDBF Spec Champions, complete with an Eye Dotting ceremony.
Another development at this regatta was the covered (and laned) marshalling area (behind the pontoons). This allowed teams to focus before loading, while being checked off by Chief Marshal Peter Mitchell.
First Race started at 12:30 pm, with each crew having three heats -
the race times determined their place in the finals. The
race draw can be downloaded here.
Results:
|
Open Final |
|
| 1 |
CPC Canterbury Dragons |
2:27.12 |
| 2 |
Fei Long - The Next Generation |
2:27.13 |
| 3 |
Tu Meke |
2:28.13 |
|
Corporate |
|
| 1 |
Beca Carter (Crewsaders) |
2:28.83 |
| 2 |
Canty Prisons (Screws Loose) |
2:28.97 |
| 3 |
Airways (Paddlateers) |
2:37.43 |
|
Schools - Girls |
|
| 1 |
Christchurch Girls High School |
2:25.22 |
| 2 |
Marian College |
2:29.52 |
| 3 |
St Margarets College |
2:30.08 |
|
Schools - Boys |
|
| 1 |
Shirley Boys High School |
2:17.07 |
| 2 |
St Bedes |
2:17.13 |
Racing through the day was intense, with some very close finishes. For example, Canterbury Dragons pipped the Under 23 squad (Fei Long) by the absolute narrowest margin in the Open Final. And St Bedes gave Shirley Boys a real fright in the School Boys Final, looking like a stroke or two could have easily close the 0.06 second gaps that separated them.
The crowd were treated to another thrill when St Bedes welcomed Shirley back onto land with a fierce haka, which Shirley responded to with equal pride and spirit. |
Photo courtesy of Ken Baker
Click here to see our first Early Bird (2008).
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