The Chester Dragon Boat Festival

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Supported in 2011 by:

DEESIDE DRAGONS

from Deeside College

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Round 3, race 16 of the 2011 Chester Dragon Boat Festival

Deeside Dragons (boat 3) vs Jason & The Arconauts (boat 4)
Deeside Dragons = 1.23.93. Jason & The Arconauts = 1.30.07

Background - On Sunday 12 June 2011, fifteen teams had three attempts to race their boat against another boat in a time trial, against the clock to post a time to progress to a four boat final.

A crew of 18 plus support crew (families), equitably assembled from across each of the campuses reported for duty on the banks of the River Dee at Chester to compete in this year’s Dragon Boat Race. Under a hugely overcast sky, the ANWYL Construction company *et al sponsored Deeside Dragon team was first on the water and laid down a great competitive time for its first race. A re-arrangement of crew/tactics for the second rain sodden race, the team posted a time so slow, it was best summed up as “like towing six buckets”. Whilst every other team’s time improved, our time, five seconds slower than our first, was not progress. The continual rain physically dampened the team but the mood amongst the team was down even more so. However, we now had a focus.... to put in a time to qualify amongst the top four, and as a team we discussed the way ahead and gradually lifted each other’s spirits immensely. With some tweaks to the crew and some vital hints and tips from our Helm/Safety Man, we rowed like dervishes and posted a hugely improved time which for the time being put us into the final. However the buzz and high fives were tempered by the fact another team could better our time. And so it was, when MS Cymru posted a qualifying time and we failed by just .......5/100 sec (five one hundredths..........is the width of a bucket sic), we realized our day was over. A deflated team promptly dismantled the rain soaked gazebos to depart the site, having once again failed to qualify for the final. One consolation was we won each of the head to head races.

On the bright side of the event, the crew from the very different parts of our ever enlarging college showed great determination to rally round and support the cause and each other. We made new acquaintances, rowed in the wettest Dragon Boat Festival ever but most importantly raised money for the college charity, the RNLI. On current estimates, the Dragon Boat team is likely to beat last years £1800 figure, so once again, a great day. Those team members who participated in their first race have each said how much they enjoyed the day, a day we know with a little less rain and a touch more racecraft, can be become a brilliant day........but that’s for next year

A great effort by the participants, each of whom raised considerable sums of sponsorship money for the RNLI. For those who were unable to participate, please dig deep and sponsor a Dragon for their gallant effort. Well done one and all. Finally, a huge thank you to our *sponsors, who in no particular order include:

Written by Paul Hughes - Deeside Dragons team member.