Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

Christchurch Boys High School Year 10

In October Aoraki was talking to long-time paddler, Quincy Hamilton from Christchurch Boys High School. He organised for Boys High to bring about 260 boys racing in ten crews (form classes) in early December 2010. Thirteen teachers supervise the teams, plus provide other logistics on site such as collating and posting results. The following Aoraki people assisted:

• Scott Johnson, Rick Smith, Janice Melville, Glenn Dickie and Jeff Savage - sweeps
• Meri Gibson - Race Starter
• Noel Anderton - finish timing and results collation
• Jillian Broadbent - Marshall and Crew Loading
• Richard Martin - IRB Chase boat

Each team has three preliminary heats (200m). The top 9 crews (on cummulative time) in the preliminary heats will progress to a seeded finals where the three fastest times on the clock will go on to a "Cup" final, 4/5/6 in the "Plate" final and 7/8/9 in the "Bowl".

Form Tutors are in charge of their class/crew and make sure that they are ready at crew loading area 5 minutes before race start.

Crews paddle to the north end of the lake and back into the beach. Finish line/timing is at the point near the crew loading beach.

Each form class has 20 paddlers plus a Drummer in the boat during a race. As most form classes have 25-30 students in them, each form tutor ensures that everyone gets as many races as possible. This will mean organising crew lists before each race. Aoraki supplies the "Sweep" (helmsman).

One boy from each class is designated as the "Caller", who sits on a seat on the bow and encourages his team, and calls out the timing based on the rate set by the "stroke pair" in Row 1. Caller also yells instructions and encouragement at the boys. This person should be as small as possible. It is possible to sub-in different people to be the Caller.

The schedule was:

Time	Activity
7:30 am	Aoraki crew arrives at Lake Pegasus for set up, lane or finish buoys, start unloading boats onto trolleys.
	Wheel 6 boats down to the lake, paddle or tow across to beach.
8:45 am	Bus departs CBHS.
9:15 am	Teachers and pupils arrive at Lake Pegasus. Teams drop their gear in rowing marquee.
9:25 am	Welcome by Meri and Rick. Background and history, structure of a season. Basic paddle moves (stable, stop the boat, draw), start procedure, calls and commands Repeat of Safety briefing (by Rick)
10:15	Race 1 = Heat 1, pool A teams 1, 2 and 3
	Race 2 = Heat 1, pool A teams 4 and 5
	Race 3 = Heat 1, pool B teams 1, 2 and 3
	Race 4 = Heat 1, pool B teams 4 and 5
	Race 5 = Heat 2, pool A teams 2, 3 and 4
	Race 6 = Heat 2, pool A teams 1 and 5
	Race 7 = Heat 2, pool B teams 2, 3 and 4
	Race 8 = Heat 2, pool B teams 1 and 5
	Race 9 = Heat 3, pool A teams 5, 1 and 2
	Race 10 = Heat 3, pool A teams 3 and 4
	Race 11 = Heat 3, pool B teams 5, 1 and 2
	Race 12 = Heat 3, pool B teams 3 and 4
	Cup Final
	Plate Final
	Bowl Final
	Boys Champion versus Teachers/Helpers [cancelled due wx]
2:15 pm	Debrief and Prizegiving.
2:30 pm	School pupils and teachers depart Pegasus. Aoraki pack out.
approx 3:30pm	Boys and the Masters arrive back at CBHS, exhausted...

Results of the day's racing is:

Aoraki welcome the opportunity to introduce newcomers to the sport. Schools and community groups often approach the association, to run a session of training, team building and racing for their group. Aoraki are keen to use this as an opportunity to introduce the Dragon Boating to people who want to try something new, fun and active. At the same time it is a chance for teams to attract new recruits.

About this event:
Who? about 250 to 270 pupils, 13 teachers from Boys High, and about 8 or 9 very ‘experienced’ paddlers.
What day? Monday 6-Dec-2010
When? Leave school around 8:30, return by 3:30 pm.
How long? Lots of racing for all, with a fast turnaround. See the schedule on the left.
How hard? An introduction to basic techniques and strategies, including a series of 3 to 5 races.
How deep? About 2.5 m in most of the lake.
Where? Lake Pegasus, just north of Woodend town. About 30 minutes from downtown Christchurch.
What do I bring? Towel and warm clothing for afterwards. Don't forget to Slip, Slop and Slap. Wear light (but warm) clothes, eg a tee shirt and shorts, with a polyprop underneath. Do NOT wear jeans or long pants. Bare feet or "aqua-socks"/ rock hoppers, but trainers can be clumsy/ dangerous.
Some public toilets are available in the town and by the swing bridge.

Quincy Hamilton coached the Canterbury Dragons (CPC) and the St Bede's College crews from 2000 - 2007. He is a teacher at Christchurch Boys' High School .

Experienced Aoraki sweeps and paddlersare there to ensure we provide the students in the boat with tips and encouragement.