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Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat club’s mens premiers. Pictures: JOHN NAPPER, ACTION IN FOCUS
Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club’s over 50s members at the Coast to Coast Dragons.
Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club women’s premiers.
Dragon boaters fired up The Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoe Club paddled its way to an impressive haul of medals at the most recent interstate championship at Lake Kawana. The Coast-to-Coast Dragon Boat Festival saw 27 dragon boat clubs from across Queensland as well as Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra compete at the three-day event. The Sunshine Coast team, named the state champions a few months before, finished the weekend with a record 10 gold, four silver and three bronze medals across the premier, 40-plus, and 55plus age divisions. The Lake Kawana-based club, formed in 2005 by founding member and head coach, Deb Matthews has evolved and expanded since that time and are now back-to-back state champions. Jack Green, 52, first became involved in dragon boat when he was looking for a low impact, but competitive sport, that also provided a physical challenge.
“What got me hooked from the start was the power of 20 people paddling in unison,” Jack says. “I remember the first time I sat in the boat and we took off I wasn’t prepared for the thrust of the boat moving forward and nearly slipped back off my seat.” Jack is part of the club’s strong men’s crew and finished the Coast-to-Coast championship with an impressive six gold medals – not a bad result for a relative newcomer to the sport. “There are so many ways to describe how much I enjoy this sport. I love the training, competition, inspiring people, team spirt, plus, the motivation to improve physically on and off the water. We train hard but it’s well worth the effort and reward,” Jack says. Chrissie Bellert, 68, started dragon boat racing more than 15 years ago after crossing paths with the sport via a corporate regatta. “From a young age I was always involved and enjoyed competitive team
Mixed Premiers. sports, footy, roller derby and squash, which are all very taxing on the joints, so after a long time of abuse my knees and other joints said no more, which was so devastating,” Chrissie recalls. “I was hooked on dragon boating from the first outing. It was the best workout you could have sitting down, so, I really felt like I had hit the jackpot!
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“I’m now 68 years old and am healthy, fit, still competing locally, nationally and internationally and happy to boot – all due to being part of such an amazingly diverse club.” More information on the Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoe Club can be found at scdragonboatclub.com.au
opening soon!
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WINTER: JUNE 2021 SENIORS TODAY 3
