Australiasian Police and Emergency Services Games DB Regatta

On Sunday 9 October 2016, Brisbane River Dragons hosted the Dragon Boat Regatta for the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games (APESG) at Lake Kawana on the Sunshine Coast.

The APESG for 2016 was an event comprising in excess of 50 sports, with BRD and DBQ successfully negotiating with the Games Management team to include dragon boating as an official sport for the first time.

 

Twenty-five (25) Games competitors from all over Australia and New Zealand registered for the event. 

These competitors were broken up into three (3) Mixed 10’s teams for the Games aspect of the event. BRD and DBQ were also able to successfully negotiate holding a club regatta as part of the APESG event which provided an ideal opportunity to showcase our sport to Games spectators and competitors alike.

Club teams registered to compete in the event included BRD, Tewaka, Manly, Lakers, Jade Dragons, and Dragons Abreast Bribie Island.   Racing for club teams was conducted over 200m in Mixed 20’s, Open 10’s, and Women’s 10’s categories. APESG teams competed in a Mixed 10’s competition. There was some very good racing on the day with Games teams performing very well with limited training and preparation.

APESG Results Mixed 10’s:
1^st         Roaring Dragons (57.25)
2^nd        Warrior Dragons (57.29)
3^rd         Flaming Dragons (1.01.72)
 

Club Results Mixed 20’s:
1^st         Tewaka (47.25)
2^nd         Sunshine Coast 1 (48.19)
3^rd         BRD (50.53)

Club Women’s Results 10’s:
1^st         BRD (58.79)
2^nd        Sunshine Coast 1 (59.43)
3^rd         Manly (1.02.00)

Club Open Results 10’s:
1^st         Tewaka (49.63)
2^nd        Sunshine Coast 1 (49.72
3^rd         BRD (53.59)

Special thanks goes to all the clubs who provided additional paddlers, sweeps and drummers for APESG teams, boats, safety boats, and volunteers for this regatta. Such support made the event possible and also very successful.

Some very positive feedback was received from Games organisers and competitors regarding the running of the event, but particularly with respect to how friendly and supportive members of the various clubs were on the day. Our aim of showcasing our sport in a positive light was certainly achieved. All in all, the dragon boat community made a lasting impression on these competitors. It is hoped that this initiation of dragon boating into the APESG fold will result in the continuation of the sport in future APESG events.

Mark Slater
President
Brisbane River Dragons