Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

Teams include:

Open
Abreast of Life.
Give it a Go.
Waimak Attack.
Sampan Warriors.
Tu Meke.
Ridge Riders (U23).
UC Dragons (U23, University)

Corporates
Airways Paddlateers.
Beca Crewsaders.
CIAL Flying Dragons.

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

The "Early Bird" - 2011

Aoraki "Early Bird" Dragon Boat Regatta was on Saturday 19-Feb-11, at the fantastic venue of Lake Pegasus. In short, the results were:

Results - 250m Sprints:

Note that credit should also go to two teams who only qualified for the "B Final" yet they posted very fast times in that race: Shirley Boys finished in 1:06.19, while Beca Crewsaders did 1:09.74.

Results - 500m Races:

In this year's "B Final", Waimak Attack edged out Sampan Warriors ahead of Give It A Go.

Last year (2010) Tu Meke dominated, edging out their U23 youngsters, with another young crew, Ridge Riders Under 23s showing what they can do!

In the 2010 Corporate final, Beca Carter continued to dominate (as they did at last year's Early Bird), but Airways' Paddlateers managed to edge into second spot.

Now this had to be the Race of the Day! Right from the start-hooter, these three teams came out firing. As they powered down the course, they were inseparable. With each stroke, each team would edge into the lead. And so it continued to the finish line, with a mere 540 milliseconds separating Gold from Bronze!

In 2010, we had a titanic struggle in the girls School section, Christchurch Girls High School had been the dominant players, but the crew from Marian College were very close on their tails.

In 2011, our visitors from Wellington dominated the Mixed racing.

Last year, 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.

How the Event Went...

The Early Bird coincided with Pegasus hosting the NZ Women's Golf Open from 17 to 20-Feb. We had the pleasure of hosting the "Cancer Society Wairarapa" Dragonboat Team for this regatta as well as "Simply the Breast" from Blenheim, which meant we could run a Women's Division as well as a BCS Division. And Upper Hutt College sent a very strong 'Mixed' team who showed they are very fast at the Sprints (third fastest of all teams with 64.36 sec).

This year we raced in four lanes. First up is a Sprint Series (250 metre races) followed by standard 500 metre races. The Sprint Races start from halfway down the lake, near the RaceHQ caravan and loading beach. The drummer holds a tensioned Starter rope strung across the lake, to align their boat. Starter was on the far beach, so that he had a 'tail wind' to blow his (PA assisted) voice across the lake.

Teams then races 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'. Each crew had one heat in the Sprints - the fastest eight crews raced off, either in a "B Final" or an "A Final" (fastest four).

Then for the 500 metre races, boats back up onto the sandy beach at the northern end of the lake. The starter (on the rocks on the western point of the small bay) calls the boats forward about 10 metres to a starter rope between the rocks for the drummers to hold. As for the Sprints, Teams races straight toward the suspension bridge and race timing/camera.

Meanwhile, professional commentator Richard Bromley call the race.

Each crew had three heats, with all times counting toward their place in the finals.

NOTE: this was the last of the "Early Bird Regatta". From Feb-2012, this was renamed the "Aoraki Open" as it was no longer 'early' in the season.

Other regatta this season: Ice Breaker - Super 12 - Early Bird - South Island Champs - Nationals (NZDBA).

Click here to see all Aoraki regatta (incl past seasons).

Teams affiliated to Aoraki and who pay season fees have automatic entry. That is, their entry fees are included in the season's fees.

Entry Fee to the Early Bird for non-Aoraki teams (i.e. those that don’t pay Aoraki a season fee) are $300 incl GST, plus a fee to cover provision of a tent and/or other amenities they request.

Similarly, South Island Champs (Lake Hood, early March) cost $300 incl GST (plus a fee to cover tent etc)