Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

National at Rotorua (Blue Lake)

NZDBA will now run the official National Championships, as of 2009. They will be on Saturday 28th and 29th-March-09 at "Blue Lake" (Tikitapu) 10km south east of Rotorua (click for a map or here).

The Prize Giving and after-party (on Saturday night) will be at the Rotorua Race Course Pavilion in central Rotorua, on Donne St which is off Fenton St, near Rydges Hotel. Click here for a map or here.

NZDBA's board are putting together the event - the board includes Dave Elliott, Alisha Zanetich, Shane Petley, Sooupu Perese, Darryn Anderson, Gavin Franicevic, Meri Gibson, and Noel Anderton.

Adult team racing - Saturday 28-March

There will be two grades: Breast Cancer Survivor and Adults. All teams race in the same heats during the day, which qualify them for different finals.

Corporate/Open Grade

Corporate and Open teams will compete in the same finals. In the Grand Final (top qualifiers) First place will receive a cup, medals (per paddler) and a Presentation paddle. Second and Third place will receive medals and paddle.

Grand Finalists in 4th, 5th and 6th place will receive certificates.

In the Lower Finals, First place will receive a Presentation paddle.

Breast Cancer Division

Cups, medals and paddles will be presented as per Corp/Open grade. Breast Cancer medals will have pink ribbons. Pins will be presented to all BC paddlers.

Schools Day - Sunday 29-March

The winner of each School division (Boys, Girls and Mixed) will be presented a Cup/Trophy. And in each division's Grand Final, 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams will receive a medal per paddler.

In the Lower Finals, First, Second and Third place teams receive certificates.

Boys Schools

Christchurch team Shirley Boys High School are the dominant force in New Zealand Dragon Boating. John Fox and Russell Stocks have developed an awesome group of boys who are fizzing whenever they get near a boat. They should be starters, particularly as they are heading to Prague in August 2009 for the World Champs.

Girls Schools

St Margaret's girls will head to Nationals, lead by Rick Smith from Evacut (and Aoraki's Board). Last year St Margaret’s team was fifth overall from 23 girls’ teams.

Scott Johnson's Christchurch Girls High are expected to return to the Nationals as well.

To contact us, email Aoraki Dragons

Venue pics
Blue Lake, Rotorua. Nationals 28 and 29-March 2009. Shows the road into the lake.
Looking south, onto the beach at Blue Lake. Camping ground at the right.
Blue Lake beach (crew loading)
Blue Lake, Rotorua (at an earlier event)