Back to Land Training and join along for drinks and brunch this weekend too!

Apr 24th, 2013
by philipmorgan.
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LAND TRAINING RETURNS!    |    LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH DRINKS    |    SUNDAY PADDLE AND BRUNCH | NO TRAINING ON MAY DAY |

 

1) LAND TRAINING RETURNS!


Please note that at 7.00pm on Thursday 25th April 2013 we will have Land Training outside the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

Yes folks, by popular demand Land Training makes a breathless return!

In fact Land Training never really went away – but in future we’ll be having an increased emphasis on Tabata Training (see  http://tabatatraining.org/?p=18 for more details).  This is to help underpin our core fitness ahead of the various races we are preparing for.

As usual the session this week will be held at the entrance steps to the Indoor Stadium which are directly over the road from the exit from Stadium MRT (CC6 on the Circle Line).  Here is the location:  http://goo.gl/maps/mxTpX 

Please note that there are no showers at the site but toilets are available for changing.

If you are driving you can use Car Park E.  Please wear your team kit and Trainers (or Running Shoes) for the Land Training and bring water along.



2) LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH DRINKS

 

Join us on Friday 26th April at 6.30pm onwards for our “Last Friday of the Month” social gathering.

This will be held at London on Boat Quay.  London is about half way along the waterfront at Boat Quay.  All paddlers, supporters and friends are very welcome to join along.

Do bring your London membership card to enjoy a 5% discount on food and drinks (and to ensure that an additional 7% is rebated back to the team!). Also please wear your team drinking shirt

 

3) SUNDAY PADDLE AND BRUNCH

Training is back to normal this coming Sunday 28th April at 8.45am.  But afterwards we’ll be heading straight over to London at Boat Quay for an informal Brunch gathering.  Paddlers, supporters and friends are all very welcome (we’ll get there at about 11.15am).  Do bring along a change of clothes and, of course, don’t forget to bring your London membership card and your team drinking shirt.

 

4) NO TRAINING ON MAY DAY

In solidarity with the workers – and because the Farrer Park Pool is closed for the holiday - we will NOT have pool training on the evening of Wednesday 1st May 2013. So put your feet up – and do some Russian Twists at home…

 

See you at Pool Training tonight though folks!

 

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

Posted in: News.

We’re Racing in Hong Kong, Standby for St. George and the Committee Line-up sees changes!

Apr 18th, 2013
by philipmorgan.
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WE’RE RACING IN HONG KONG!    |    ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON (BOAT)    |    COMMITTEE COMINGS AND GOINGS |

 

1) WE’RE RACING IN HONG KONG!

Thank you for your great response on our plans to go overseas to race. Based on your feedback we have decided to go to the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival from 21 to 23rd of June.

Inline images 1

Look forward to 3 days of racing in the heart of Hong Kong in Victoria harbor!

The races will be over 250 and 500m and there are many categories to race in, including a Fancy Costume race! The weekend will be concluded by a race dinner and party on Sunday night!

If you registered to race in June you will by now have received a separate email from the International Rep. requesting your passport details and outlining other administrative details of the trip.  Please act on that email immediately as time is tight!

Please note that to be included in the Hong Kong squad you must pay your $150 deposit to the Treasurer’s by Sunday 21st April 2013.


2) ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON (BOAT)

On Sunday 21st April we will celebrate St. George’s day with a St. George and the Dragon (Boat) paddle event and BBQ.

Set in the time of the Crusaders, you and your team will be given the challenge to slay the dragon and save the princess.  Be ready to surrender your swords and pick up your paddles as we joust for success.

Please dress up for the occasion – we will be in need of Knights, Kings and Ladies – and prepare to go to battle.

For those registered please be at the cage at Kallang at 10.30am on Sunday (there is no Sunday training).  We will brief you on your challenge there.

At the end of the race we will celebrate our victory with a traditional medieval meal – Meat and Mead.  The beers are kindly provided by our sponsor:  London – Boat Quay.

 

3) COMMITTEE COMINGS AND GOINGS

I am delighted to let you know that Pam is heading back to her former role on the Committee as our International Rep.  She takes on this familiar job at a very busy time as she is already planning and organising our next oveseas trip to Hong Kong.  Please give her every support.

Her change of role has led to a vacancy for a new Social Secretary to work alongside Natalia and I’m pleased to let you know that Jo has kindly volunteered and been appointed.  Jo has been with the team for a little over 2 years, she always has a smile and is fun to be around.  She’s an excellent paddler and has always given 100% in terms of paddling and by wearing fantastic costumes to events!  She certainly knows the meaning of: Party Hard, Paddle Harder!  We certainly look forward to her ideas and vibrancy for our social activities in the coming year.

Paul (our Team Manager) has also informed me that Andy has decided to step down as our Men’s Captain. I will let Andy explain:

Dear Paul,

The time has come for me to step down as Men’s Captain and allow someone with the time and energy to take our Men’s team to the next level, which it undoubtedly will do this year.

On Monday I will be taking a 6 week assignment with a humanitarian organisation and will be working around the Burma/Thailand border with the indigenous tribal groups before heading back to Singapore early in June. I will then most likely be going to the UK for a few weeks to see family, it’s been over a year since I’ve been able to make a visit back. Of course, this will mean missing the next 3 races, at least, with my commitment after that uncertain at this stage.

I have a feeling of enormous satisfaction to see how the team has grown over the last 6 years. It’s sometimes easy to forget the achievements and leaps forward we have made and it’s very much down to a solid core of long standing team mates who have created a ‘standard’ for newer paddlers to follow in terms of attitude, commitment and the way we present ourselves to the wider dragon boat community.

Naturally, I will continue to paddle when I can and contribute where I can in the future and lend my full support and help to whoever takes over representing our men.

Thank you for all the help, support and friendship extended by you, our committee and paddlers over the last 6 years. Although you will be out of sisight for the next couple of months you certainly won’t be out of mind.

Very best regards,

Andy

Paul has followed up with the following comments:

As our Men’s Captain goes off for another intrepid photographic adventure, we don’t say goodbye, but come back soon mate.  Andy has been in this role for over 6 years, he came in at a time when the team was ready to really move forward, and he was instrumental in our achievement of this. He has supported me with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm, sharing the same vision and beliefs of the team.  He has been rock solid as both the Men’s Captain, and as our team Vice Captain, always stepping in to attend meetings, run training, as well as so much more (our fantastic garden party would never have happened without Andy, for example).  He will be very sorely missed by all, and I particularly feel my best friend and ‘Wing Man’ for so many years wont be around for a while.  Thank you Andy for everything, we’ll see you soon buddy!

Paul

I’m sure the whole team will join with me to thank Andy for his dedication and commitment to the team over the last six years and to wish him every success with his latest travels and creative projects.
If you would be interested in being considered or nominated for the role of Men’s Captain, as a first step please have a word with Paul (Team Manager) and informally let him know your interest so that he can share more insights about the role and the expectations andresponsibilities.
All the best,
Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

Posted in: News.

Taiwan or Hong Kong? Plus don’t miss the boat for St. George!

Apr 11th, 2013
by philipmorgan.
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TAIWAN OR HONG KONG?    |    DON’T MISS THE BOAT FOR ST. GEORGE    |    VARNISH SQUAD    |

 

1) TAIWAN OR HONG KONG?

After our great experiences in Macau and Penang last year and in Korea in 2011, the British dragons are again looking to join one of the international dragon boat races in the region!

At the beginning of the year we shared our plan to go to Taiwan and join the Taipei international dragon boat races in June.  A large group of people registered for this race, which is great!

Based on the latest information the Taiwan races are scheduled for Sunday 9th June and Wednesday 12th June (a public holiday in Taiwan to celebrate the dragon boat festival!).  This would assume that we will need to take 4 days of leave in order for us to participate in this race.

At the same time we would like to propose the Hong Kong International Dragon boat Carnival as an alternative to the Taiwan race.

Inline images 1

This looks like an great opportunity to go away with the team, with only 1 or 2 days leave needed and todo lots of races in a very competitive and international field!  And a great party afterwards :-)
- Race: Hong Kong International Dragon boat festival 2013
- Location: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
- Dates: Friday 21 June until Sunday 23 June
- Race distances: 250m and 500m
- Race categories: Open, Mixed and Women + a Fancy Costume race
- Sunday night race dinner & party

For both the HK and Taiwan races, please assume flight prices will range between SGD 300-450 depending on timing and availability. There is a possibility that accommodation in HK will be provided by the organization, but this is yet to be confirmed.

Since we only recently came to know of the Hong Kong race we’ll have to move fast so please let us know whether you would prefer Taiwan/Hong Kong/Either/Neither using the following registration form before Saturday 13th April:

(*Please note that to race with the team overseas you must have raced at least once with the team in a Singapore event).
We will come back to you as soon as possible with more information based on your feedback 

(My thanks to Pam who has been covering the International Rep. role for her research and for providing the above information).


2) DON’T MISS THE BOAT FOR ST. GEORGE

This is the last chance for our Nobles, Knights and Ladies to take to the water and crusade in honour of St. George.  Peasants and Serfs are very welcome too!
What: ….. St. George’s Paddle and BBQ
Where:….. Kallang at 10.30am (NO Sunday morning training on that day!)
When:…..  Sunday 21st April 2013
Price:….. $20 (payable to the Social Secretaries at training or they will smite thee) 

 

All you need to do is register via: www.britishdragonboat.com/stgeorge/

Please register YES/NO before Tuesday 16 April 2013.


3) VARNISH SQUAD

If you kindly signed up to assist the “varnish squad” after training on Sunday 14th April please don’t forget to bring an old T-Shirt along (plus gloves, rags or any other items you feel may be useful for the task).  A few snacks would probably be welcome too!  With luck we’ll get more varnish on the boats than on ourselves!

 

All the best,

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

Posted in: News.

ST. GEORGE MEETS THE DRAGON (BOAT)

Apr 6th, 2013
by philipmorgan.
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ST. GEORGE MEETS THE DRAGON (BOAT)   |



1) ST. GEORGE MEETS THE DRAGON (BOAT)

In April Saint George’s Day is celebrated in England and we’ve decided this is a great opportunity to bring this traditional English celebration to Singapore and to give it a modern twist with some medieval revelry.
What: ….. St. George’s Paddle and BBQ
Where:….. Kallang at 10.30am (NO Sunday morning training on that day!)
When:…..  Sunday 21st April 2013
Price:….. $20 (payable to the Social Secretaries at training)

 

Set in the time of the Crusaders, you and your team will be given the challenge to slay the dragon and save the princess. Be ready to surrender your swords and pick up your paddles as we joust for success.

Please dress up for the occasion – we will be in need of knights, Kings and Ladies – and prepare to go to battle.

At the end of the race we will celebrate our victory with a traditional medieval meal – Meat and Mead!*

All you need to do is register via: www.britishdragonboat.com/stgeorge/

Please resgister YES/NO before Tuesday 16 April 2013.

* Of course learned hagiologists have for centuries debated whether St George was in fact a vegetarian. Rumours abound that whilst Crusaders, Ladies and Nobles would extravagantly feast on roast hog, disembowled swan (with apple cinnamon relish), pigeon pie or similar meaty delicacies, St George would eschew the weighty platters.  Instead he could often be spotted chatting up a fair maiden in the kitchen whilst skillfully wielding his sword to rustle up a potato salad or to prepare spinnach leaves to create a hearty “tart spinnage”.  In view of this the Social Secretaries will certainly be providing some vegetarian choices at the feasting in honour of his enlightened lifestyle!

Posted in: News.

Register now for the People’s Association Race and Brush up on your Varnishing Skills

Apr 1st, 2013
by philipmorgan.
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REGISTER NOW FOR THE PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION RACE    |    BRUSH UP ON YOUR VARNISHING SKILLS    |

 

1) REGISTER NOW FOR THE PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION RACE

The PA Race will be held on the weekend of 27th and 28th April 2013.  The final details for this race are still not confirmed and we’re not sure whether we’ll be racing on Saturday, Sunday or both days yet!  But as it’s coming up we need to know who is available to race ASAP so that when the details are finalised we can get our registration in quickly!  Please register online by Friday, 5th April (indicating any day you are not available in the message box).

www.britishdragonboat.com/pa2013/

Please note that as with all registrations you need to register YES/NO for your participation (so even if you are not taking part this year please take a moment to register a “NO” so that we know!).

 

2) BRUSH UP ON YOUR VARNISHING SKILLS

The gunwales and seats on the boats are looking a bit ruddy from exposure to the sun and water so Gill has decided that a re-varnish is called for.

We’ll have a varnishing session immediately after training at 10.30am on Sunday 14th April.

If you’re bristling with indignation about the poor state of the woodwork then grab a brush and lend a hand!

If you don’t feel confident enough with your painting skills then we can find you less exacting tasks with masking tape, sandpaper and opening tins to be getting on with with. And if you really don’t feel like getting dust or paint on yourself or working up a sweat at all then we also have one or two “Supervisory” roles on offer – this basically involves standing in the shade and pointing from time to time as you offer key motivational phrases such as “Look, you’ve missed a bit…” or “Careful, it’s dripping…” (and the only can you’ll be need for this role is a chilled can of beer in your hand as you, er, watch paint dry!).

If you’d like to volunteer for this “Varnish Squad” then please drop me an email to:

secretary@britishdragonboat.com

… and I will add your name to Gill’s list.

See you at training,

All the best,

 

Philip N. Morgan - Team Secretary
British Dragons - Singapore

Posted in: News.

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