Ross Kendall
The Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club has had their year upended by the COVID-19 pandemic but they were over joyed when they were able to get back on the water again earlier this month.
Besides local and Australian regattas, including state and nation titles, the club had trips planned to compete in Canada and at the Invitational Club Crew Worlds in France, but all have been cancelled.
‘Now we’re simply excited to be back on the water,’ the RRDGC’s Monica Wilcox said.
Club members have had their first on-water training sessions since COVID-19 halted community sport.
Due to having up to 20 crew members in a boat, the club had to wait until the toughest restrictions on community sport were lifted.
Throughout the down time the Rainbow Dragons maintained connection between members with small coffee and exercise groups across the region, plus Jetts boot camp sessions in Ballina.
‘As frustrating as it was to have to wait, the health and safety of our paddlers was a priority. The Club has now developed a workable COVID-19 Safety Plan for our return to paddling,’ club resident Jan Wright said. ‘Rainbows coaches are already developing training plans for 2021 competitions’.
