Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ
Calendar
  Training
  Race Regatta
  ADBA Meetings
Regattas

All local regatta
  NZ Regattas
  Other countries

 

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

 

 

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.
This page:

Open
Corporate
Schools - Girls
Schools - Boys
Dates for this season:
Sunday
7-Dec-08		 Aoraki Ice Breaker at Kerr's Reach.
Waitangi Day, Friday 6-Feb-09 Dunedin Regatta
Saturday 21-Feb-09.

"Early Bird" Regatta at Kerr's Reach.
14, 15-March-09 South Island Champs at Lake Hood
21, 22 March 09 Wellington Dragon Boat Festival
28, 29 March 09 Nationals at the Blue Lakes, Rotorua)

Related :

Results (from 2008)
Race schedule
Last year's Photo gallery


Photo courtesy of Ken Baker

Related forms etc:

A list of all "Squad" members (up to 25 including drummer and sweep) must be submitted by Thursday 19th Feb. = new =

Entry form for local adult crews, click here. = new =
Entry form for School crews (Chch or out of town), click here = new =
Teams should have completed a Safety Waiver form by now = new =
Regattas are run under NZDBA Race Rules

Click here to see our first Early Bird (2008).
Affiliated to NZDBA home - contact us - faq updated: 15-may-11
(c) Noel Anderton