Rainbow Dragons Regatta 2023 Results Wrap-Up

Dragon boat paddlers from 17 clubs from as far north as Redland Bay QLD, south to Hunter Valley and west to Narrabri started their racing seasons on the weekend at the 2023 Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club regatta, on Shaws Bay, East Ballina.

Club president, Jan Wright, said

“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and it sounds like everyone had a lot of fun along with some good, healthy competition.”

Starting Saturday afternoon, another local club Ballina, won the 1km turn race, with Tweed coming second and Kempsey third.

The four “State of

Origin” teams were drawn from a hat so never having paddled together to add an extra challenge. Both NSW teams showed they could stay the distance and challenge to take out both frst and second place.

Sunday started with a spectacular double rainbow arching over the course which lifted everybody’s spirits for a full day of 200 metre racing.

The “Community Teams Challenge” made up of schools, clubs, Council, and Rainbow sponsors raced for a good cause- Jetts Pilots won $250 for their chosen charity. The tartan clad, Bravehearts, won “Best Dressed.”

20s CREWS- Womens: 1st Currumbin, 2nd Ballina, 3rd Tweed.

Mixed: 1st Currumbin, 2nd Palm Beach/KIN, 3rd Tweed.

10s CREWS- Womens: 1st Rainbows, 2nd Coffs Coast, 3rd Currumbin.

Mens: 1st Currumbin, 2nd Ballina, 3rd Kempsey. Opens: 1st

Tweed, 2nd Palm Beach/ KIN, 3rd Rainbows. Rainbows are proud of their placings in 10s fnals because they were also the hard working volunteers, over the entire weekend.

Finally Breast Cancer Survivors results - 1st Wollumbin, 2nd Rainbows, 0.05 second difference.

By Tim Howard

You can tell where family sits with South Grafton Rebels superveteran hooker Steve Kirby.

Asked to describe how he felt after coming off the bench to play in the Rebels frst grade team’s preliminary fnal win over Nambucca on Sunday, alongside son and winger Damon Kirby, he left no doubt where it stood.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “Better than 20 years ago to the day when we won this game to make the grand fnal against Lismore.’

Kirby said his 21 years in the game with the Rebels, since arriving in Grafton from Brewarrina, had created plenty of milestone, but the chance to play footy with Damon and his other brother Chris Hardy, were the