Two Rainbow Dragons, Mark Bellman and Deborah Gibson have returned victorious from AusDBF Australian Championships in Adelaide.
As members of the Northern Pride which was NSW’s Regional representative team, Deborah and Mark both won four Gold medals. Deborah for Masters Women and Mixed 500m and 200m races and Mark for the Masters Open and Mixed 500m and 200m.
Just like they clean swept the NSW States, the Northern Pride team left nothing to doubt by winning all their heats and finals. At times they were racing with different categories in the same heats and Deborah was proud to say, ‘Our women’s team was holding its own against the Premier’s teams’. (Premiers are aged 25-39 years).
Regional teams from Victoria, South Australia and NSW along with every state/territory’s metropolitan team were represented.
Northern Pride consisted of paddlers from Rainbow Region (Lennox Head based) to Port Macquarie and their training began last year. Three Rainbow Dragons were selected for the team, Mark Bellman, Deborah Gibson and Val Bezuidenhout, all passed the rigorous fitness test and water trials selections. Unfortunately Val was unable to attend the Australian Championships due to work commitments.
Winning Golds was a great reward for the hours of training and travelling, as well as personal investment, put in by these Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club paddlers.
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