Sydney Dragon Sports Association Dragon Boat Club

I've been a spectator at the Chinese New Year races, but never a participant on the inside.  The weather was a little hit-and-miss being cool and very overcast with the occasional smattering of rain followed by the odd sun ny break.  It's not the most ideal weather for encouraging the crowds to come out and see what the sport is all about, but it certainly wasn't going to stop us or the races.

We had been racing quite well throughout the day.  With some close 2nd and 3rd places in various heats which qualified us for the Premier mixed minor final.

The announcement for marshalling for the premier mixed minor final pipes out through the loudspeakers.

"Alright!  Everyone get ready and go to marshalling!" Yells our coach.

We make our way over and start our warm-up before queueing up for our boat.  The racing official clears us for racing and indicates to proceed towards the boats.  I had a sudden attack of butterflies in my stomach as we walked from the marshalling area to our awaiting dragon.

Once seated in the boat, it felt like we were back in familiar territory and knew exactly why we were there.  This was what the many sessions of training was for.

"Remember.  You have to give it all you've got the whole way.  The race is short will be over before you know it.  Don't hold back!" says our captain.

As we paddled over to our lane at the starting line, the nervous excitement in the boat fell away and was replaced with serious focus on the task at hand as we waited for the call...

"Paddlers!  Are you ready!
Set..."

BEEP!

And the race was on! Our boat took off with a burst of energy.  Our paddles agressively ripping through the water in unison.

The whole crew roars as we moved from our start sequence to race pace.

"THREE!  TWO!  ONE!  DRIIIIIIVE!!!!"

Our paddles cut into the water to the beat of our drum and ripped through the water in rhythm, propelling us closer to the finish line.

"DRIIIIIVE!!  DRIIIIIIIIVE!!!"  Yells our sweep.

The adrenalin was pumping and our boat surges forward with intensity as everyone dug deep to bring out every last bit of power that was left in our bodies. We crossed the finish line marker and immediately dug our paddles in the water when we hear our sweep shout out to slow the boat down.

Heavily panting, we looked over at the numbers flashing across the electronic scoreboard.

"How did we go?" Asks a crew member.

None of us were sure as we were all so focused on our own boat, there was no time to even glance sideways at the other teams.

Suddenly our sweep exclaims. "I think we just came first!!!"

The whole boat cheers proudly and the spectators beside our boat break out in applause.  It was such an exhilarating feeling!

Exhausted but high-spirited we made our way back onto land.  There were smiles all around, but none as big as the one spread across our coach's face.

After a warm-down stretch, we huddled up and agreed that was one of our best races this season so far and how good it felt when everything goes right.  I couldn't think of a better way to end the day.  To be able to take away a first place trophy and celebrate our win over a drink with my fellow paddlers.