Click here to see the latest calendar of events - June, 2010 through to May, 2011.

If you have any news you'd like to share, or would like to let people know of an upcoming event, send the details or story to Graham Howlett, BRD Communications Officer via his email address: graham_howlett@bigpond.com or call his mobile on 0404 716 089

Brisbane River Dragons (BRD), Australia’s premier Dragon Boating club, has managed to secure an unprecedented 3rd consecutive Australian Dragon Boat Australian Club Crew Championship at the National titles held in Adelaide from the 23rd to the 25th April, 2010.

With over 2,000 paddlers from around Australia descending on Adelaide, it was always going to be a tough ask for BRD to continue their winning ways and retain their National title. Local South Australian teams had been training extra hard to make sure they benefited from their home ground (water) advantage.

For day one of the championship, 500's were the order of the day and with racing kicking off at 8am and finishing at 5pm - it was a long day, with plenty of paddlers having to back up across the various categories. Some paddlers paddled up to 15 races in the day.

BRD managed to get in all the finals, with the exception
of Premiers Open. However, medals were lean - with Masters Mixed achieving the only gold medal of the day with impressive performances across the day. Masters Open and Masters Ladies both finished with silver after gallant performances from many paddlers backing up from Premiers and Grand Masters.

A much improved day across the board for BRD on day two. With the splash and dash of the 200m, backing up wasn't as onerous as day ones 500m.

BRD did exceptionally well in getting all teams to the finals or semi finals in the first heats. No repechages for them!

After the semi finals, only one team missed out on the major finals, and that was Premiers Open, who with only 5 Premier men, finished a mere 0.2 of a second outside a place in the major final - from about 30 teams competing in that division.

BRD finished the day with five medals in all – two gold, two silver and a bronze. Masters once again leading the way, but one of the best results for the day, was a bronze by the Premier Ladies.

Masters Mixed continued their golden run with another commanding victory, comprehensively out paddling 17 other teams. Masters Open made up for their silver yesterday, with powerful display in the final to bring home gold.

On the third and final day, BRD were back to their best with powerful displays across the board in the 2,000m event, confirming themselves as the premier Dragon Boat club in Australia by securing their 3rd consecutive Australian Club Crew Championship. Masters once again achieved gold medals, with Grand Masters achieving two silvers. The Premier Open team, with only four actual Premier men, the rest from Masters and Grand Masters, finished a brilliant fourth behind powerful teams from Pacific Dragons (NSW) and Ice Dragons (ACT)

Once again a day of backing up by many paddlers reinforced the wonderful team spirit that is BRD.

It was this sort of performance that epitomised the efforts that all paddlers went to over the three days and why BRD remain the Australian Club Crew Champions. BRD are now looking forward to see what they can do at the World Club Crew Championships in Macau, China, in July, 2010.

Overall Results

500m
Premier Open – Semi Finalists
Premier Women – FInalists
Premier Mixed – FInalists

Masters Open – Silver
Masters Women – Silver
Masters Mixed – Gold

Grand Master Open - FInalists
Grandmaster Women –FInalists
Grandmaster Mixed –FInalists

200m
Premier Open – 2nd Minor Final
Premier Women – Bronze
Premier Mixed – 4th

Masters Open – Gold
Masters Women – Silver
Masters Mixed – Gold

Grand Master Open - Silver
Grandmaster Women –4th
Grandmaster Mixed –4th

2000m
Premier Open –4th
Premier Women – TBA
Premier Mixed – 6th

Masters Open – Gold
Masters Women – Gold
Masters Mixed – Gold

Grand Master Open - Silver
Grandmaster Women – 4th
Grandmaster Mixed – 4th

Dragon boating is Australia’s fastest growing sport and continues to gain great interest from paddlers of all ages. BRD is looking for paddlers of all ages and abilities to continue the phenomenal growth of the sport and of our club. In particular, we are looking for Premier Men and Lady paddlers (18 – 40) – so come along for a free Come ‘n Try day. BRD are having a celebratory BBQ this Saturday the 1st May, 2010 - all welcome.

In another fine performance across the board, Brisbane River Dragons has topped the medal tally count at the 2010 Queensland State Championships.

On a wet and windy weekend, where Cyclone Ului threatened to blow us off the water, BRD was faced with strong challenges across the weekend.

On Saturday, the 500m Open and Women’s events were all tightly contested, with BRD winning three of the six finals and close seconds in the other three events. It was the Women’s and premier teams that showed Gold as Premier Women, Masters Women and Premier Open all won their respective finals. It was especially pleasing to see the Premier teams do so well, and the Masters Women’s were simply too powerful for all comers.

Masters Open and Grand Masters Open were both pipped on the line by resurgent Burleigh teams. Both teams were in the lead with 30m to go, but to Burleigh’s credit, they were able to reel us in. Well done Burleigh. Grand Master Women finished a gallant second to a strong Currumbin team.

Sunday saw the Mixed events – 500m in the morning, followed by 2,000m in the afternoon. BRD’s Master crews were stung in action by their close losses on Saturday and Masters Mixed were way to good in both the heat the final – powering away to a comfortable Gold!

Grand Masters Mixed Typhoon Blue didn’t have it all their own way though, being beaten for 2nd in the heat, with BRD Grand Masters Typhoon Red, qualifying for the final also, not far by in 4th. In the final, the Typhoon Blue team had to hold off another fast finish from Burleigh – this time holding on to claim victory by a mere .09 of a second! The Typhoon Red team were also flying home, and just missed out on a Bronze medal. Well done guys.

In the Premier Mixed, BRD qualified fastest so were straight through to the final without the need to go via the repechage. TeWaka had been threatening all weekend, and they didn’t let go of this one – claiming a lead mid way through the final and they never let go. BRD challenged, but TeWaka just powered up that bit more – in the end winning by just over half a boat.

The 2,000m races Grand Masters Blue take out silver, with Red finishing in fourth. Masters once again dominated, finishing first, with Premiers coming in third.

Overall Results

Premier Open – 500m – Gold
Premier Women – 500m – Gold
Premier Mixed – 500m – Silver, 2,000m - Bronze

Masters Open – 500m – Silver
Masters Women – 500m – Gold
Masters Mixed – 500m – Gold, 2,000m - Gold

Grand Master Open - 500m – Silver
Grandmaster Women – 500m – Silver
Grandmaster Mixed – 500m – Gold, 2,000 - Silver

Photos of the event – courtesy of Sherwin Francis, can be found at http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/brisbaneriverdragons/photos/album/435447907/pic/list

Premier Open – Gold!!

BRD had numerous teams participating in the Panamuna Sprint back in January.

All performed very well. Here's a pic of some of the ladies who attended.

Following are known Regatta event dates. Dates may change, so keep an eye out

22nd-25th April, 2010 - AusDBF - Nationals - Adelaide
3rd July, 2010 - TeWaka, Corporate Regatta - Colmslie
28th July, 1st August, 2010 - IDBF, World Club Crew Championships, Macau

The Brisbane River Dragons have officially been named the Australian Club Crew Champions for 2009. The Champion Club Trophy was presented to our club by the President of AusDBF on May 23.

And again, a job well done to all paddlers, sweeps, drummers, helpers, coaches, captains for an excellent campaign. All of it culminated with BRD placing in all but one event on the final day. And a special congrats to the Juniors who improved with every race and will be a force to contend with in the future!

This has qualified BRD to attend the 2010 World Club Crew Championships in Macau.

BRD rocked at the States on the weekend. BRD won in every 500m category except one! Almost completed another clean sweep like we did at States in 2006/2007 at Hinze Dam. Well done all BRD members and supporters.