“Dragon boating is the best fun you can have sitting down.”
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That was the motto on Sunday as the Bathurst Pan Dragons held their first regatta at Chifley Dam since forming in 2011.
The banks of the dam were crowded with people watching the 200-metre sprints across the water.
Co-ordinator and Bathurst Pan Dragons treasurer Suzie Jones said the goal was to have fun out on the water and generate interest in the sport.
“We organised this regatta to promote dragon boating and to also let people know of the great facilities out here at the Chifley Dam,” she said.
Clubs from Orange, Lithgow and Newcastle came to compete, but also present were several community teams, including staff and councillors from Bathurst Regional Council.
In the boats sat 20 paddlers, a drummer and a sweeper, all performing a vital role in getting the boats from one end of the course to the other.
Brian Smith from Dragon Boating NSW, which oversaw the event, said newcomers to the sport were given a tough first day because strong winds caused problems with lining up and navigating the course.
“We’ve had a couple of collisions today,” he said.
A few races had to be cancelled and one of the boats lost its intimidating dragon head, but organisers pressed on with the regatta.
The Bathurst Pan Dragons will travel next month to compete at the Orange regatta.
Those wishing to find out more information can visit bathurstpandragons.org or www.facebook.com/BathurstDragonBoatClub.