The Namoi Dragons, based in Narrabri, will take to the water once more, this time joined by dragon boaters from Dubbo and Queensland at a trial day.
The club has invited people to come and see the fun and fitness of the sport at the event to be held on Saturday, April 30. A barbecue at 12.30pm, cooked by Rotary, will mark the start of the day before the action at the Narrabri Creek, at the Cameron Park boat ramp, starts from 1pm.
Narrabri West Lake was the original venue for the day, however, was changed due to the lake being too shallow.
Two boats are expected to be at the lake, with the local Dragons being joined by the Redlands Sea Dragons and the Dubbo Dragons.
Two of the Redlands Sea Dragons members originate from Narrabri, Julie Young and Sue Hanrahan, and they are keen to promote the sport of dragon boat paddling/racing.
“This event is for anyone to come along and have a try at dragon boating,” Namoi Dragons publicity officer Louise Stewart said.
“We welcome people to join the Namoi Dragons and to learn about dragon boating.”
Dragon boating is about fun, fitness and friendship with the aim to enjoy the sport of dragon boating, while encouraging and assisting participants to achieve their individual goals of fitness and competition.
In Narrabri, the local 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.
When the idea of a local dragon boat club was floated the community response was prompt and enthusiastic.
“We had a 22 seat dragon boat donated to us by Dubbo Dragons to launch our club and from our open day at Narrabri Lake at the start of the year we quickly received 69 expressions of interest from potential members,” said committee president Karen Kirkby.
“We named our club Namoi Dragons to make sure we embrace the whole Narrabri shire.
“We want to see members from right across the shire.”
Businesses will be welcome to join in – corporate competition is common in other centres.
“We would really like to have shire schools involved as well,” said Dr Kirkby.
Dragon boating ranges from purely social recreational and fitness paddling to very competitive national and international contests on harbours and waterways across Australia and the world.
Age doesn’t matter – anyone from 12-years-old and up can be paddler and examples abound of 80 and 90- year-old dragon boaters with all ages, male and female, in between.
Anyone wishing to express interest in the trial day can contact the Namoi Dragons at [email protected]
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