The Committee
Team Captain/Manager: Paul Robinson
Like the British Dragons, time flies, and it’s been over 8 years since I joined the team and started dragon boating. With every passing year, I enjoy being part of the team and taking part in this sport more and more. This is due in no small part to the fact that the British team has such great people and that our paddling skills and technique are constantly improving. I’m proud and honoured to lead both the committee and the team, it’s a tough role with tough decisions to be made, however always with the interests of the team at heart. The British Dragons is one of the most culturally diverse teams on the water, with some 16 nationalities currently paddling with us. We have won many medals in Singapore and overseas, and have gained the respect of other teams both for our paddling prowess and team values. We live up to our motto Party Hard, Paddle Harder! which we followed through our 10th anniversary year and will continue beyond…
If I’m not dragon boating then I’m usually travelling & working for www.privatehomesandvillas.com which allows me to visit fantastic holiday rental homes across Asia. I also like a party and can often be found mixing my drinks (why-o-why?) and misbehaving with friends around town!
Men’s Captain: Andy Langton
As a Project Manager by day, this is eclipsed once I hear the call for “Paddles Up” and put on the dragon boat battle dress (and I’m not talking men in skirts, though it has been known). As a proud member of the British team since 2007 I have won medals and friends and had some fantastic times outside of training and racing. The team is a genuinely friendly and approachable bunch of people that will welcome you!
Ladies’ Captain: Nicky Marsh
I’ve been a proud paddler with the great British team since January 2009. My husband and I started paddling with the Brits just 2 months after moving to Singapore and have had THE BEST time ever since. The team has such a great spirit which I love being a part of.
I am proud and honoured to have been voted in as Ladies Captain this year. I look forward to everything that the role brings and can feel already that 2012 is going to be GREAT for the British Dragons Ladies! And for the guys too, of course 
In my spare time I work for an expat women’s association.
Coach: Jason Chen
If you know the number of years in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, then that is the number of birthdays I have spent in the wonderful sport of Dragon Boat racing. The moment I was exposed to the sport, I started racing competitively and was forever imprinted with the dragon boat tagline “eat, sleep, breathe, dream, S%$#”. I started in a polytechnic with a strong racing background, after which I was invited to paddle in an elite veteran’s club, before finally representing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAFSA) and wearing the national colours. Once I had achieved all I felt I could from paddling, I branched out into coaching. At the same time I assisted in setting up a Dragon Boat company. At that moment my life took a turning point giving me the opportunity to see Dragon Boat in a totally different light. Through this phase, I was exposed to organising international dragon boat races, managing dragon boat products from all over the world, conducting coaching seminars and corporate team building events. This interesting path made me understand a lot more about the sport than anyone could ever have taught me. I have learnt that our wonderful sport of dragon boat racing not only brings people together, but it changes their lives as well.
My inspiration comes from; the teams I coach, people like you reading this, people who never thought they would want to get down, dirty & wet at the Kallang River (instead of staying home and watching TV). It’s only when you decide to be there in the boat that you will realise how much you have achieved in just one training session. You train, you race and you fight hard with the team behind you.
Out of it all I can assure you one thing – training is not easy, but when I hand you your first medal you know you have made the right choice!
Secretary: Phil Morgan
I’ve lived in Asia for over fifteen years working in Broadcasting and Digital Media. I joined the British Dragons in 2009 and despite the fact that it was my very first experience of team sports I soon grew to love paddling with the team. Since then I’ve participated in many races in Singapore and even ventured to overseas events in Boracay, Okinawa and Putrajaya. It’s certainly exhilarating to be part of a crew on race days and great when your efforts are rewarded with a medal too! The British team is very welcoming to all newcomers (of any nationality, shape or size!) and it’s a great way to get fit, push your limits a little and make many new friends.
When I’m not Dragon Boating I enjoy volunteering, cooking, cycling, collecting books and travel.
Treasurer: Melanie Highfield
Following my arrival in Singapore in July 2000 my only regret is not having found the team sooner; I did not try dragon boating until 2004! I have been an active member on the Committee for 7 years. In between dragon boating I manage to fit in a love of red wine, eating out, painting, cooking, catching up with friends, cinema and travel. My more serious role (well the one that pays the bills anyway) is as a Financial Controller for an advertising agency.
Assistant Treasurer: Fabian Cottier
It was on a Saturday afternoon in May 2011. I was comfortably seated on my balcony doing my bestto cope with the Singaporean heat, when I noticed on the Kallang water an embarkation looking like amodern version of a Roman galley.
After some investigation, I discovered that it was in fact a sport: dragonboat. The next week, with all myfree will, I decided to have a try as it seemed to be something I was not going to do any time in Europe.
Coming from 3 years in UK, I decided to have a go with the Brits, as they have the good colours ontheir flag: Blue, White, Red. (I’m French by the way).
My thoughts on dragonboating today. A boat is more than the sum of the individuals. Trust me, you willgo beyond your limit not to prove anything to yourself but for the person next to you, the one in front,the one behind, and the one behind him, and behind him….
I hope you will have the chance to experience this feeling. But before that you owe me 10 SGD – yes,I’m Assistant Treasurer, meaning that when I’m not at my bench doing some biological experiment I’mcollecting money for the training and recording who is in the boat.
Looking forward to add your name on my list.
Social Secretary I: Pam Ooms
I started 2010 with the New Year resolution to stop lazing around and actually get some exercise. This led to me joining the British dragon boat team on a Saturday afternoon and since then can be found at Kallang every single weekend on Saturday and Sunday!
Since joining the Brits I’ve made some great friends, paddled many races both in Singapore and abroad (Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Thailand) and won lots of medals!! And of course had some great parties as well.
In 2011, I started the year as Social secretary of the team and this year will continue together with Natalia will make sure that the team continues to PARTY HARD! by organising social events of the team such as the Brits Amazing race, after-training beach BBQ’s and a some great (after race) parties to celebrate our medals to be won this year!!
Now all you need to do is make sure to Paddle Harder!
Social Secretary II: Natalia Makarova
Actually, I came to the Kallang to take pictures of dragonboaters for
my article. Despite my sheepish protests I was immediately hauled into
the boat by Andy and Paul. So, here I am two years later, still paying
out for being the only person who enjoyed a free ride with British
Dragons:) In return for ungodly (for me) early Sunday mornings, way
too familiar taste of the Kallang crystal waters and all usual aches
and pains of trainings, I gained great friends, amazing trips with the
team, excitement of the races and something I will never forget: this
feeling when you in the boat of the Champions!
Kit & Equipment: Gillian Saxon
It was the beginning of May 2008 that i saw someone wearing the British Dragon’s drinking shirt in a bar. I said to the man wearing it “I’ve always fancied giving dragon boating a go”. He invited me down to saturday training. Although It was tough at first, I loved it! A perfect balance of fitness and social ( never being a huge fan of running or the gym), it was just what the doctor ordered.
Since then I have been on many trips overseas with the team, and have won a lot of medals.
Four years later, I am the kit manager. If you see me out wearing the shirt, I will probably try to sell you one 
International & Barbarian Rep: Rob Cooke
I have been in Singapore for three years and joined the team in October 2008 to improve my fitness and make new friends. The team was very welcoming and despite finding the first few sessions very hard I was soon in races and loving a new sport. The British team likes to travel and I have paddled in Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia with the Brits, winning my first gold medal in South Korea. As International rep I ensure that the team are represented amongst the international dragon boat community in Singapore, co-ordinate team members who wish to race with the Singapore Barbarians and arrange British team overseas race trips.
Marketing & Advertising: Anna Hamill
Growing up in small-town New Zealand, the extent of my exposure to Great Britain has been English breakfast tea and Coronation Street reruns. But that all changed when I joined the British Dragons!
I came to the team in July 2012 in search of new friends and working off all that delicious hawker food. I fell in love with the adrenalin of race sets and camaraderie of the team.
My attempts at sports have usually been with more enthusiasm than skill, but quickly I was in a raceboat and have now raced in sprints, 500m and internationally. If you are looking for a sport that gets you fit – fast – and with a team spirit like nothing else, then dragonboating is for you. Nothing is betterthan training hard together, then crushing it in a race with your best mates.
When I’m not paddling, I am usually found at work in trade marketing, being mistaken for an Australian,or partying with all my great friends in the British Dragons… it is part of our motto after all.
Come on down and join us! (If I can do it, so can you!)
Back Room Boy: Phil Hayward
In early 2009 I was looking for something social and sporty (in that order) to do on a weekend and was fortunate enough to stumble upon dragon boating. Since then I have made many friends, competed in races around Asia and surprised myself with new found fitness.
Away from dragon boating and its website you may find me working on the internets or attempting photography.
