A team of 38 Rainbow Dragons (Lennox Head-Ballina) dragon boaters headed north for the formidable Broadwater’s ‘Battle of the Paddle’ on the Gold Coast, and brought home trophies.
This regatta attracts a very competitive field that often use it as preparation for the imminent State Championships.
The home club is full of prime young paddlers who dominated the finals.
However the Rainbows Mens 10 team paddled with gusto and came in third. In doing so, they achieved their long-standing goal of winning their first medal at a regatta.
Last year they were pipped by 100th of a second for third place at the Australian Masters Games.
Also two Rainbow Pink paddlers teamed up with Wollumbin Pinks to finish second in the Breast Cancer Survivors category.
Other team results were very competitive too, as the Mixed 20s completed the 200m in less than 54 seconds in both heats.
Later, in the 2km ‘Island Dash’ boats had a 20-second delay start and by the home straight the Rainbows had overtaken two boats, although one fought back.
The Rainbows emerged from this almost physical encounter 20 seconds ahead, but just outside the top 10 times.
Club president, Lu Cooney, summed up the day: ‘It was wonderful to have a broad cross-section of members representing the Rainbows at this regatta.’
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