Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

Team Profile:

Abreast of Life

ABOL is a breast cancer survivors’ team, the second to be established in New Zealand, and one of six teams now in the country.

Our members come from a diverse range of backgrounds. The only prerequisite is to have had a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

There are mums and grandmas, working women and retirees, sporty types and those who’ve never played sport before. We’re aged between mid thirties and mid seventies, but we paddle in the Open division unless it is the Nationals, where we now have enough teams to have our own division. We have a saying "always first in our lane", but we also know we’ve already won our race and are happy to be on the water, competing as hard as we can and having fun.

ABOL was established in 1999 following a visit from a Canadian team who challenged New Zealand survivors to take up the sport. We’ve been competing locally and nationally since 2000. Our first coach, Dave Sloss of Linfield Dragon Boat team and Linwood Rugby Club, helped establish the team, and then with Andy Phillips joining him they guided us through our first three seasons. Coach up to 2008 was Auds Campbell, Mike Louch and Mark Flint. Then from 2009-10 Graeme Rountree is coach.

We’ve competed internationally as a team in Vancouver, BC in 2005 at the Alcan Regatta and Abreast in a Boat 10^th Anniversary Regatta. Half the team also competed in the Dragons Abreast Regatta at Caloundra, Queensland in 2007, where they joined with Wellington cancer survivor team 'Can Survive' or international team, 'Amazon Hearts'. We won medals at both those regattas.

We’re a social team, getting together often to celebrate birthdays and other milestones amongst team members, have BBQs, as well as fundraising events for equipment and travel to regattas. We also push our message, of early detection, self care, regular mammogram screening, and the benefits of exercise along with the support and camaraderie of other survivors, to women’s social and recreation groups throughout Canterbury. 

Anyone interested in joining the team, finding out more about us, (or donating large sums of money!) can contact Chair Meri Gibson at 351-6646.

Key Team players:

• Graeme Rountree, Coach
• Meri Gibson, Chair
• Janice Melville, Sweep
• Toni Reid, Team Captain
• Gayle Sommerville, Caller.

Foundation members (still paddling):

• Jan Bensemann
• Toni Reid

Members with five or more years paddling with  ABOL:

• Janice Melville,
• Lynne Smith,
• Ellie Mc Dougall 

Other teams:

• Abreast of Life
• Airways Paddlateers
• Canterbury Paddling Club (CPC)
• Evacut Express
• Fei Long TNG
• Ridge Riders U23
• Tu Meke Dragons
• Hillmorton High
• Christchurch Girls High
• St Margaret’s College
• Avonside Girls

See the team's NEW website at www.abreastoflife.co.nz