Shaws Bay was a blaze of colour on the weekend for the annual Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Regatta, bringing hundreds of competitors from across the region with plenty of fun and friendly rivalry.
The Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club held its inaugural regatta in 2013. Shaws Bay is usually a lovely sheltered location for racing, but extremely high winds on Saturday provided some drama on the water, while conditions on Sunday were postcard-perfect.
Races included the 100 metre dash, a community teams race, a knock-out mixed 20s flag race, a mixed 20s State of Origin race and various 200 metre races.
Kailani Tiernan from Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club said the sweeps were ‘phenomenal’ in Saturday’s challenging conditions, with winds howling across the start line.
‘Everyone’s got to be in time with each other, so we’ve got our drummers at the front. The front two paddlers are our strokes. They set the pace.’
Originally a surfer, Ms Tiernan told The Echo she started dragon boating only last October, but is already an enthusiast. She said her mum brought her along for a session, and she signed up straight away.
What attracted you to it?
‘It’s community, it’s team building,’ she explained. ‘After our training sessions, we go out for a coffee or breakfast or something together… It’s not just a sport. It is actually a family. We give each other hugs and we all know each other.
‘Most of the clubs in Australia were started by breast cancer survivors. From there, they’ve grown with other members joining the club. It’s one of those sports that anyone can do.’
On the weekend there were many entirely female teams and also male dragon boat racers, with limits on mixed teams.
There are two clubs in the Ballina area, with the Rainbow Region Club being based at Lennox Head. Training happens every week, with afternoon sessions at Lake Ainsworth and morning sessions on the waterways around Ballina, including long distance sessions.
Kailani Tiernan says it’s not just about speed, but consistency, strength and endurance training. ‘Sometimes we’re doing race starts, sometimes we’re doing sprints; sometimes we’re moving at a really slow rate, but making sure our technique is correct.’
The club is always looking for new members, go to the website to find out more.
The Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club also has an active presence on Facebook.
Competitors from all over
How far have people come to compete in the regatta this weekend? ‘Well, they have come from the Gold Coast, and we have a team from Brisbane, the Typhoons. We have clubs from Kempsey, Grafton, Coffs Harbour.
‘We have one club from out near Orange. There’s one gentleman who’s come from south of Sydney. There’s a few other paddlers who couldn’t get enough members of their club to come, so they join other clubs here.’
Ms Tiernan said the community competition was a highlight, with police and fire departments competing, as well as representatives from Ballina Council and other local organisations, including Lennox-based mental health legends the Healthy Minds Club, who won the Community Teams Challenge this year.
”Everyone’s done a really fantastic job,’ she said. ‘Our breast cancer survivors team were phenomenal. The women’s tens team are also competing in the Masters Game down in Canberra in October. They’ve been training hard for it.’
And the winners are…
Presentations were held at the end of the competition on Sunday, with prizes sponsored by many local businesses. Results below.
Community teams:
1. Healthy Minds
2. Mays Powerhouse
3. Jetts Ballina
Breast Cancer Survivors:
1. Rainbows
2. Wollumbin / Redlands
3. Lucious Allsorts
Mens 10:
1. Typhoon
2. Typhoon / Currumbin
3. KIN / Wollumbin
Womens 20:
1. Tweed / Coffs
2. Currumbin
3. Waratahs
Mixed 20:
1. Typhoon
2. Currumbin
3. Gold Coast
Womens 10:
1. Typhoon
2. Rainbows
3. Waratahs
Open 10:
1. Typhoon
2. Currumbin
3. Dragons on the Rocks
More photos!
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