Members of Narrabri’s newest sporting club, the Namoi Dragons, have started official training in dragon boating and are eager to take part in competitions.
The Dragons hosted a training weekend at Cameron Park and learnt skills as coaches and sweeps.
Highly credentialled officials visited Narrabri to conduct the training.
The weekend saw visitors from Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst join local participants.
With training ramping up, and the club now officially affiliated with Dragon Boats NSW, members hope to conduct a weekly session on Sundays.
Committee president Karen Kirkby was pleased with the members’ enthusiasm at the weekend and is confident the sport will continue to gain momentum.
Three new members were signed up to the Namoi Dragons following the training sessions.
“Our dragon boat club is all about fun and fitness,” Dr Kirkby said.
“We have been overwhelmed with the interest we have received as well as the support from the shire community.”
The Namoi Dragons were able to debut a trailer it recently acquired to transport its dragon boat.
The club got off to a flying start earlier in the year with the generous donation of a training dragon boat from Dubbo-based Outback Dragons.
Since then, the local Dragons have received sponsorship from Santos, Whitehaven and the Narrabri RSL Sporting Body, enabling the purchase of the trailer.
Thanks to the support, members have been kitted out in bright uniforms, which were also on show at the weekend’s training sessions.
The local dragon boating enthusiasts see a future with the opportunity for sporting clubs, other organisations and individuals to join for fun and fitness, and with the likelihood of a competitive crew to take the challenge up to other dragon boat clubs – of which there are many in Australia.
Visiting officials said they are confident the local club is in good hands and has a great future ahead of it.
To order photos from this page click here
