As the dust settles and the waves die down from the bow of our boats, we look back at a tremendous past few weeks. A little over 2 weeks ago we fielded a team of 49 paddlers (no mean feet and thanks to those that helped us out to paddle!) for the first ever DBS Marina Regatta.  So many of you put in some really great efforts to turn up to trainings and paddle hard at those trainings.  To see both our 22 crew boats do so well over the course of the weekend was fantastic.  My favourite races were when Boat 2 cruised to first place on the first race on Sunday, and also naturally our silver and gold medal races. Superb.

Yes a Silver and a Gold, and more over, we are the Champions of this first ever event!   I have received so many messages of congratulations from many sources, here is one from our friends The Spanish Armada for example:

And then there was The DIVAS, we came, we paddled we won the GOLD! Annoyed at not being able to paddle as a ladies boat at the regatta, our ladies were on a mission to show the other teams ‘who’s boss’ Strong powerful and convincing stuff, well done.  Finally the Drags, boys you did the ladies proud again, in your leotards. Wonderful performance as The British Olympic Athletics Team for London 2012.  A lot of hard work from Andy and boys, well done and congrats on winning the second prize.

WOW what a team.

MACAU (Really URGENT people) Yes we can go and race in Macau if you want to?  Many of you have expressed a wish to go to this world class venue and race. If enough of you say yes we will race there at the end of June:

Fly out: Friday 22nd June
Return: Sunday 24th June
Where: Macau World Championship Dragon Boat Course
Cost: Flights/accommodation/transfers/party at SGD 490 if we book flights asap!
Day’s off work: ONLY half day, or take full day on the Friday

What you need do: Immediately send an email to international@britishdragonboat.com and put YES I’M COMING TO MACAU in the subject so that Rob Cooke can organise numbers.  The longer we wait the more the price could go up on flights.

Out:   Tiger 14:00 Friday 22nd (Direct) Arrive 17:50

If we don’t get enough interest we can ask other teams to join, also the DBS team has said they will go and can join with us too!

Greetings to everyone, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Paul Robinson - Team Manager
British Dragons - Singapore

Please note that there will be no training on the following dates:

Saturday 12th May 2012
Sunday 13th May 2012
Wednesday 16th May 2012

Training will recommence at Kallang at 3.30pm on Saturday 19th May 2012.

2) DIVAS RACE GUIDE

After our success at the DBS Marina Regatta 2012 it’s now time for the team to shine in the glittering Diva’s Regatta

What:….. Diva’s Regatta

Where:….. Kallang Riverside Park

When:….. Saturday 12th May 2012 at noon

Noon is the event start time, so please meet at the cage and DO NOT BE LATE.

3) SUNDAY PICNIC IN THE PARK

Whilst we take a brief break from training the social activities will of course continue.  We’ll be holding our first ever Picnic in the Park this Sunday:

What:….. Picnic in the Park

Where:….. Singapore Botanical Gardens – Palm Valley overlooking Symphony Lake

When:….. Sunday 13th May 2012 at noon

This is a chance for the team to pick a shady spot in this quintessentially British location, spread a blanket or two upon the lush grass and unpack some homemade chutneys from whicker hampers.  We’ll be disturbed only by the gentle call of afternoon birdsong, the occasional pop of celebratory champagne corks and the familiar screech of “Ewwww, there’s ants got in the Pate..!”

This gathering will be completely informal so no registration is required.  Simply turn up at noon and bring your own food and drinks (and perhaps a few extra morsels to share around). Blankets, sunhats, sunblock, umbrellas and the usual coolbox paraphernalia will all be useful (though of course barbecues are not permitted).

Friends, family, children and supporters are all very welcome!

We’ll hold the picnic at Palm Valley overlooking the stage on Symphony Lake.  You can download a map here:

www.sbg.org.sg/visitorinfo/images/sbgmap-17112011.pdf

The Picnic will be near Point 6 on the map – a pleasant 15 minute minute stroll from the entrances at Napier Road or Bukit Timah Road (Botanical Gardens MRT entrance).  Getting to the Botanical Gardens is very easy even if you don’t take the MRT:

By Foot:
Entrance to the Gardens is through the Gardens’ major entrances: Tanglin Gate, Burkill Gate, Nassim Gate and Cluny Park Gate, and through the Bukit Timah Entrance.

By Car: Car Parking Facilities are available at the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Visitor Centre, Bukit Timah Car Park at Bukit Timah Core, Botany Centre, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden and Public Parking along Tyersall Avenue.

By Bus:

Via Holland Road
SBS Transit 7, 105, 123, 174
SMRT 75, 77, 106

Via Bukit Timah Road
SBS Transit 48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170
SMRT 67, 171
See you at the Picnic!

4) BIG WIN FOR BRITS AT DBS MARINA REGATTA 2012

Champions of the Inaugural DBS Marina Regatta….an historic weekend for the British Dragons in the heart of Singapore.

The British Dragons are on a winning streak…..a golden winning streak!

On Monday morning members of the British Dragonboat team were waking up to realise that it wasn’t just a dream….after weeks of preparation and training in the days running up to the Regatta and some serious paddling, the British Dragons are the winners of the Inaugural DBS Marina Regatta 2012 event, collecting a Silver Medal in the 200m category, a Gold Medal in the 500m category and a very large cheque!

The weekend began bright and early on Saturday 5th May as the team arrived at Marina Bay and set up tent for a brand new style of event. This high profile Regatta took place in the heart of Singapore, in the shadow of Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Financial District, and for the first time presented International and National teams with the opportunity to race over both 200m and 500m courses and claim prize money for overall performance.  Those teams who positioned in Gold, Silver and Bronze over both races not only collected medals, but also points – 13 points for Gold, 9 for Silver, 7 points for Bronze and 5, 3 and 1 points for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th positions.  The team with the highest number of points at the end of the weekend in each category was presented with a cheque for between S$10,000 – S$25,000.

The British Dragons fielded two 22 crew mixed boats in the Singapore International Community Mixed 200m & 500m category, and one 12 crew mixed boat in the Singapore Corporate Open 200m category. Day One was all about sprinting, and after Boat Quay Regatta the team had something to prove.  The Brit 2 crew raced first in a tough opening heat against Dragon Riders from Hong Kong, Spanish Armada, the German Dragons and AustCham2, followed by the Brit 1 crew who faced the American, Filipino, Canadian and Gaelic Dragons. Both boats qualified for the semi-finals, with the Brit 2 boat going on to the Minor Finals and Brit 1 crew entering the Grand Final. Our toughest competition came from the Filipino and AusCham teams, with the AusCham1 crew taking Gold with just a 0.09 sec lead over the Brits who achieved a fantastic time of 0.53.26 and won 9 points.

Whilst in the past making the Grand Final was the primary goal for the British Dragons, nothing short of Gold was good enough this weekend. We had trained for it, and we knew we could achieve it.

Day Two dawned and the British Dragons were back at Marina Bay, focused and ready to give it everything over the 500m course. This is the length of race that best suits our long, powerful maintenance stroke, and the work that had been put into improving our starts and charge paid off. The Brit1 crew was first out on Sunday, qualifying for the semi-finals with a time of 2.17.08 seconds.  It was the Brit2 crew, however, who put in perhaps the most impressive performance of the weekend, cruising through their heat with a clear lead and seemingly without the need for a final charge at all!  Whilst they were unfortunate not to qualify through to the Grand Final, our Brit2 crew certainly put in an amazing performance over the course of two days.

The Brit1 crew took first place in their semi-final heat with a time of 2.13.39, and lined up against the Candian Dragons, AusCham1 , Filipino Dragons 1 and 2, and the Gaelic Dragons in the Grand Final of the Singapore International Community Mixed….we knew it would be a closely fought race.  The AusCham team was with us all the way, but in the end we did what we do best…..we came together as a team, we gave it everything we had as individuals and paddled for each other, for our Captains and for our Coach.

We took Gold, we won much needed funds for our team, but perhaps most importantly we proved the power of our training! Every member of the team was committed before they even arrived at Marina Bay and it made all the difference. Physically we were stronger….what’s 500m when you’ve been repeating 2k circuits at 7am in the morning, completing a day’s work and then tackling land training in the evening??….but mentally we were stronger too, more focused, and more determined.

As agreed between the International community ahead of the race weekend, the prize money will be shared among the top three teams, with AusCham receiving S$6,500 and the Filipino Dragons S$3,500.

An enormous thank you and congratulations to our fellow International Community team dragon boaters for a fantastic weekend of racing

Ladies, it is now up to us in the Diva’s Regatta….

(Many thanks to Caroline Zuber for this race report).

I look forward to seeing you all at the Diva’s Regatta and the Picnic in the Park this weekend.

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

1) TRAINING UPDATE

Please note that there will be NO training on the following dates:

Wednesday 2nd May (Pool Training cancelled)
Saturday 5th May (due to DBS Marina Regatta)
Sunday 6th May (due to DBS Marina Regatta)
Wednesday 9th May (Pool Training cancelled)

2) DBS MARINA REGATTA 2012 RACE GUIDE

Here is your complete guide to the DBS Marina Regatta 2012.  Please read this guide carefully.

Date: ….. Weekend of 5th and 6th May 2012
Reporting Time: …..  TBA *Will be advised by email in the coming week *
Location: ….. Promontory @ Marina Bay (in front of the Marina Bay Financial District)
Map: …..  Map
Getting there: …..  Raffles Place MRT on the East/West and North/South lines (about 15 minutes walk)

Upon arrival please report to Mel and pay your $50 (if you haven’t already).  This fee covers race entries, personal registration, water and 100 Plus drinks on both days, lunch sandwiches on the Saturday and the team dinner at RedDot (Dempsey) on the Sunday evening.

All team members must be wearing a team racing shirt and team bandana (or cap) in order to race.  No other shirts or headwear are acceptable.  Please wear British Dragons shorts or dark blue or black shorts.  Remember that footwear is compulsory in the boats.

If you need to buy kit for the race then email Gill at kit@britishdragonboat.com so that she can bring your order along to the race.

Please limit valuables to essentials for the weekend as our marquee will not be fully secure and thousands of spectators are expected.

Times and line-ups for races are subject to constant change so always:

• Know which event you’re competing in (look at the posted team boat layouts);
• Stay close to the team marquee;
• Let the Committee know your whereabouts at all times when NOT close to the team marquee.

A race weekend is usually a stressful time for the Captains as they have to juggle race logistics and organise boat layouts (a tricky task with many factors such as prior experience, training, injuries, paddling side, gender, weight, other race commitments and giving newer paddlers race experience all playing a role as to whether an individual paddler is selected to a particular crew and where in that crew their contribution can be best deployed to win a medal).  Boat layouts can and do change for all sorts of reasons so please maintain the usual good humour and stiff upper lip that the British team are well known for.  If you do have any feedback then the Captains will be pleased to receive it – but preferably when the races are out of the way.

If you are new to racing don’t be tempted to wander off to get a coffee or whatever if you think that you are not in a race – things can quickly change and you might find that you are needed in a boat RIGHT NOW!  Plus you will want to attend all the warm-ups, briefings and visualisations so that you are ready to race if you are suddenly called upon (and also to gain valuable experience about what racing entails).  If you do need to go anywhere – even for a couple of minutes – then tell the Captains or a committee member.

Please eat well in the days leading up to the race.  Carb load the night before the race (pasta, rice, etc.), get plenty of protein and make sure you bring along your choice of Berocca, Hydration Salts, Energy Gels and Bars, etc.  Also have a hearty breakfast before setting out so that you will be in good shape for the all-important heats (if we fail to qualify in those then of course we will just sit empty-handed on the shore all weekend politely clapping the teams that have beaten us).

Remember to bring sunblock and water along to the race and please make sure that you hydrate well before and during the weekend.

Supporters and friends are very welcome so do invite them to drop by and say hello!  The DBS Marina Regatta 2012 promises to be the biggest dragon boat event ever seen in Singapore and will have plenty of carnival activities to keep supporters happy.

Copyright: DBS

3) CAPSIZE DRILL REMINDER

A capsize is a very rare event in training.  But capsizes can and often do happen in races.  If two boats capsize up to forty people can be pitched into the water leading to a challenging situation.

If you are in a boat which does capsize then it is no big deal so long as you remember the following crucial words of advice from our Captains:

a)   Do Not Panic!

b)   Check that your row buddy has bobbed to the surface and is okay (if not raise the alarm and feel under the overturned boat)

c)   DO NOT swim to the shore – wait for the attending safety boat(s) to take charge and instruct*

(* This last instruction may leave you thinking “Huh?”, especially if you are in a boat which capsizes just a few metres from the shore and you could swiftly step onto dry land.  But a capsize – especially if it involves boats with paddlers from different teams pitched together into the water – can be a very confusing situation for a few minutes.  Once a paddler swims off to shore and disappears into the massed crowds watching then the whole thing becomes much more serious as it will be assumed that the person may be missing and this will cause great concern and likely a frantic search.  So if you do end up in the water simply stay with your row buddy and check that the paddlers in the rows around you are accounted for and not injured.  In this way it will be easy for the Captain and Cox to do a headcount for everyone and let the safety boat know that the whole crew is okay.  Remember: stay with your team in a capsize until instructed otherwise).

4) FOOD AND DRINK AT THE RACE WEEKEND

Saturday lunch will kindly be provided by our sponsor “Freshly Baked” (tasty sandwiches including vegetarian choices).

Sunday will be our traditional “Pot Luck Lunch” so please plan to bring along some nutritious food to share with the team.  This is the chance for our cooking and baking brigade to demonstrate their creative flair in the kitchen (the rest will doubtless forage at the supermarket…).

Our Team Dinner will be held at RedDot (Dempsey) on Sunday 6th May at 7.30pm. The dinner is included in the race fee.  If you haven’t done so you must register your choice of food before midnight on Wednesday 2nd May (also guests and supporters are very welcome at $30 each).  If you do not register your meal choice then no meal will be ordered for you!

www.britishdragonboat.com/dinner-registration/

Please wear your drinking shirt at the Sunday evening team dinner and bring along your team membership card to claim our discount and rebates.

5) SOUVENIR EVENT T-SHIRTS

Each paddler competing in the DBS Marina Regatta 2012 will receive a “goodie” bag including a souvenir DBS event T-shirt.

The T-Shirts are sized:    S /  M /   L /   XL /   XXL

Please let Mel know your size by emailing:  treasurer@britishdragonboat.com before Sunday 29th May 2012.

If you do not inform Mel about your size you will have to take your sizing chances on whatever stock remains!

6) JOIN THE FUN AT DIVA’S

The annual DIVA’s event takes place on Saturday 12th May.  If you have registered but not yet paid then please pass your entry fee to Kate or Mel ($45 for girls and $35 for boys).

It’s a fun afternoon of racing plus dance and skit performances and goes long into the night with a Mexican buffet and plenty of beer.  Even if you have not registered to take part it is still not too late to get tickets for yourself – and your guests – at just $35 per head (which includes the buffet and beers).  Simply drop an email to:

treasurer@britishdragonboat.com

I look forward to seeing you all at training as we power up for DBS Marina Regatta 2012 and let our hair down at the DIVA’s!

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

MOVIE NIGHT   |   KIT ORDERS   |

1) MOVIE NIGHT

Another team movie night folks – and in just a few days time!

A good chance to relax in a comfy seat after a hard weekend of race training to enjoy Lockout starring Guy Pearce (yes, Mike from “Neighbours” and some other movies).

Where:….. GV Cinema VivoCity (Harbourfront MRT)
When:….. Monday 16th April 2012 at 7.00pm
Price:….. Free (with ticket)

Tickets are limited so please register immediately at: www.britishdragonboat.com/movies/

After the movie we’ll head out for a bite of supper.

Registration closes midnight on Sunday 15th April 2012.  Thanks to our friends at MVP Entertainment for hosting us.

2) KIT ORDERS

As we look forward to the DBS Marina Regatta it’s time to get kitted out for the race weekend and team dinner.

You can view the complete range of team racing shirts, drinking shirts, bandanas (emblazoned with the Union Jack and made with the special easy-knot perspiration-wicking fabric plus anti-fray edge stitching) and baseball-style caps (complete with adjustable velcro to fit any head size) at very keen prices at:

www.britishdragonboat.com/kit/

To place an order just speak to Gill at training or email your requirements directly to her at: kit@britishdragonboat.com

See you all at training this weekend as we power-up for the DBS Marina Regatta!

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

TRAINING DATES   |   DBS MARINA REGATTA AND DIVA’S RACE REGISTRATION   |   CHIPPY AND BEER NIGHT   |   MOVIE NIGHT   |   SAVA MR500 RACE REPORT   |   GET KIT FOR 2012

We’re entering action-packed times for the team!  Please respond to the race registration immediately please (whether “Yes” or “No”).

See you all at the Chippy and Beer Night on Friday 30th March and at Pool Training the following Wednesday.

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

25-26 March 2012, Jurong Lake, Singapore

‘Long, Longer, Longest’ just about sums up the first race weekend of 2012 for the British Dragonboat team! The new venue of Jurong Lake certainly presented the competing teams with some new challenges, with shallow sections of the course creating heavy water off the start line and at the 350m mark. Fortunately for the Brits our training at Farrer Park swimming pool, and our Coaches enthusiastic use of resistance tyres during training, had left us well prepared for just such a challenge. With long, strong strokes and a steady pace the British mixed, Men’s and Women’s teams took on the 500m course with confidence and composure.

On Saturday the team fielded two mixed boats in the Inter-Club and Premier Mixed categories. Paddling first, the Inter-Club crew competed against the Austcham Paddle Club, Gaelics and PLK Paddlers and secured a firm second place with a time of 2.21.84.

Two races later the Premier Mixed boat faced stiff competition in the form of the NTU ‘A’ team and the Filipino Dragons in their first heat. This was an opportunity for our newbies to shine, and they stepped up and performed brilliantly, recording a time of 2.24.32. In the subsequent repechage the crew upped their game shaving 3 seconds off this time and coming second in 2.21.25, securing their place in the semi-finals where they went on to qualify for the Minor Final at the end of the day.

The Inter-Club crew battled it out with the Filipino Dragons in their semi-final, losing out to second place by just 0.24 of a second! As the ‘fastest loser’ however the crew had secured their place in the Grand Final.

Whilst medals eluded us on day one, an incredible effort by newbies and experienced paddlers alike meant the British Dragons put in an impressive performance, and lessons had been learnt ahead of the second day of competition.

Sunday 25^th saw the British Ladies gather at 7.30am to take time to reflect on the challenge ahead of them and participate in an inspirational pre-race exercise with their Ladies Captain, Nicky Marsh. There are few sports which require such dedicated team work as Dragonboating, and trust in your team mates is the difference between a boat of 12 or a team of 1.

The British Ladies went from strength to strength during the course of the day, improving on each previous performance to shave nearly 4 seconds of their first time. They recorded their best time of 2.45.95 in the Plate Final of the Premier Women’s Category, securing them a shiny Gold medal! The determination in the final boat was incredible and the Ladies crossed the finish line in style.

Not to be out shone, the Men’s team performed brilliantly in the Premier Open, achieving a course time of 2.18.18 in their semi-final race, and successfully reaching the Plate Final where they put in a strong performance against tough competition from SMU and Team OneStroke. An excellent start to the 2012 season by the British Men as they grow in strength and number.

A rather soggy end to the weekend delayed our departure from Jurong, but the usual British spirit prevailed despite the thunder and lightening, and we met at Red Dot later that evening to celebrate a wonderful start to the year and review our performance captured on film by Mr Robinson and our new Winsor head-cam!

The camera never lies, so let’s take on board the lessons learnt from this weekend and train hard to be ready for the DBS races in May…. remember you can’t escape the camera, and the captains and coaches are watching!

Caroline Zuber

Club Crew Open Grand Final, as seen by Winsor and Shobhana

 

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TRAINING DATES   |   MR500 RACE GUIDE   |

1) TRAINING DATES

Due to the MR500 Race we will take a BREAK FROM TRAINING on the following dates:

Wednesday 28th March 2012

Saturday 31st March 2012

Sunday 1st April 2012

Regular training will resume at 7.00pm at Farrer Park Pool on Wednesday 4th April 2012

2) MR500 RACE GUIDE

Here is your complete guide to the forthcoming race weekend:

Date: ….. Weekend of 24th and 25th March 2012
Reporting Time: ….. Saturday at 09.30am (report to the British Dragons marquee)
Location: ….. Jurong Lake
MRT Station: ….. Chinese Garden MRT (station EW25 on the Green East-West Line)
Map: …..   http://g.co/maps/fhg97

Chinese Garden is the nearest MRT then walk over the bridge to the lake. Car parking is right next to the race site off Chinese Garden Road.  Avoid the western end of the lake as it will be closed to us and blocked by another event!

I suggest that we all plan to get to the site a little early given that it is an unfamiliar venue.

Upon arrival please report to Mel and pay your $50 race fee (if you have not done so already).  This covers race entries, personal registration and photo ID race tag, water and 100 Plus drinks on both days, lunch and beer on the Saturday and the team dinner at Red Dot (Dempsey) on the Sunday evening.

You will be given a photo ID tag which you will need to wear all weekend (if lost the organisers will charge you for a replacement).  Don’t forget to bring your tag along on the Sunday too (I usually tie it to a piece of kit so I won’t dash out without it!).

If you are running late or have any “problem” please advise Philip before 09.30am on the Saturday.

All team members must be wearing a team racing shirt and team bandana (or cap) in order to race.  No other shirts or headwear are acceptable.  Remember that footwear is compulsory in the boats.  Please limit valuables to essentials for the weekend as our marquee will not be fully secure.

Times and line-ups for races are subject to constant change so always:

• Know which event you’re competing in (look at the posted team boat layouts);
• Stay close to the team marquee;
• Let the Committee know your whereabouts at all times when NOT close to the team marquee.

The weekend is often quite stressful for the Captains so please defer to their judgment and directions on the day and uphold the usual British team spirit and upbeat resolve to win at all times.  If you have any feedback for the Captains then please feel free to share it at the appropriate time (which is usually after the race weekend).

The Captains request that you eat well in the coming week.  Carb load the night before the race (pasta, rice, etc.), get plenty of protein and make sure you bring along your choice of Berocca, Hydration Salts, Energy Gels etc.  Also have a hearty breakfast before setting out so that you will be in good shape for the all-important first heats (if we fail to qualify in those then of course we will just sit empty- handed on the shore all weekend regretting our lack of medal chances!)

Remember to bring sunblock and water along to the event and please make sure that you hydrate well before and during the weekend.

Sunday is our traditional “Pot Luck Lunch” so please plan to bring along some nutritious food to share with your team mates.

Our Team Dinner will be held at RedDot (Dempsey) at 7.30pm on Sunday 25th March.

If you have not done so you need to register for your choice of meal at  www.britishdragonboat.com/dinner-registration/ (before midnight on Wednesday 21st March).

If you do not register a choice then no meal will be provided for you.  Guests are also welcome – please register the meal choice for your guest(s) immediately and pay the $30 per head to Mel or Kate.

Please wear your drinking shirt and bring along your team membership card to the team dinner.

If you have any questions then just drop me an email.  MR500 Here We Come!

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore