Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

Teams:

Open
Abreast of Life.
CPC Canterbury Dragons.
Fei Long - TNG.
Give it a Go.
Waimak Attack.
Sampan Warriors.
Tu Meke.
Ridge Riders (U23).

Corporates
Airways Paddlateers.
Beca Crewsaders.
CCC Cruisers.
Evacut Express.
Screws Loose (Corrections).

Schools
Avonside Girls HS, Y12
Avonside Girls HS, Y13
Christchurch Girls HS.
Marian College.
Riccarton HS (girls).
St Margarets College
St Margarets College
Villa Maria.
Shirley Boys High School
St Bedes.

Not attending: Hillmorton HS and Simply the Breast (Blenheim)

The "Early Bird" - 2010

Aoraki "Early Bird" Dragon Boat Regatta was on Sunday 21-Feb-10, at a fantastic new venue - the lake at Pegasus Town.

Team tents are set up just a few metres back from a beautiful sandy beach, about half way down the north-south manmade lake. Crews are marshalled and load into the boat and cruise the 300 m to the top of the lake.

Teams arrived about 8:30, ready for the official blessing of the new lake. Formal procedings for the day start at 9:15 with a Captain's briefing at Race HQ (a caravan on the lake's shore). First race (at 9:30) with Prize Giving at RaceHQ at about 6pm.

Three teams back their boats onto the sandy beach at the northern end of the lake. The starter is positioned on the rocks on the western point of the small bay, and when starter and finish line are ready, the starter calls the boats forward about 10 metres. A 'boat aligner' stands in waist-deep water and can pull any boat around that is drifting with the wind (there is virtually no current to worry about). Teams then races the 500m distance straight toward the suspension bridge - a brilliant vantage point for the hundreds of spectators. Precision Electronic race timing uses a camera positioned on the finish tower, erected on the future site of the 'Yacht Club'.

Meanwhile, professional commentator Richard Bromley calls the race, aided by live video feed from three race camera.

Each crew had four heats - the best three race times determined their place in the finals. The race results are here! .

Results:

In the adult open section, the top teams had a big shake up this year. In 2009, CPC took out the final, followed by Fei Long (who came under Tu Meke's wing this season as their 'development' team) with Tu Meke in third. But in 2010 it is Tu Meke who dominate (as they showed at the Ice Breaker in December), edging out their youngsters, with another young crew, Ridge Riders Under 23s showing what they can do!

Then in the Corporate final, Beca Carter continue to dominate (as they did at last year's Early Bird). But this time Airways' Paddlateers managed to edge past Screws Loose from Corrections Department.

In the Schools division, we had two titanic struggles going on. In the girls section, Christchurch Girls High School have been the dominant players, but the crew from Marian College are very close on their tails. The first heat of the day saw CGHS edge Marian in a very tight race, and the Final was just as tense!

Meanwhile Avonside Girls had an 'internal struggle' going on, with their Year 13 girls having competition from their Year 12 school mates. Both teams had a slow first race, but improved during the day, with the Year 12 team actually posting the fastest time for the school in the last heat.

Meanwhile Christchurch boys teams Bedean Dragons and Shirley Boys High School alternated wins in the heats. Set up for a 'winner takes all' finals, with two races each, Shirley Boys edged home in the end. This set the scene for a great showdown on 6-March at Lake Hood!

Click here to see our first Early Bird (2008).