CREW EARTH: First Race of the season -- May 29, 2011
"EARTH" took part in the Outer Harbour Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday,
our first venue of the paddling season and what a day we had!
One mind, one heart, one boat! (Coach Kim's quote, and now Earth's);
That's exactly how we felt. We set our goals and achieved it to the best of our ability. We stood tall, felt proud of our accomplishments. As Coach Kim says, "those races are done so step 2 begins"..... The Mississauga Festival and then Welland. The competition will only get stiffer. As you will see from the results below our friends and competition Rowbust now realize that we mean business and they will train even harder, as we will too.
Coach Kim, worked us hard and although we don't always understand her reasoning, we have learned to trust her knowledge. She always has each and everyone of us close to her heart. Kim's role is not without difficulty, but she handles coaching with great focus always with an eye on the end goal. THANK YOU KIM!
We won both of the 400 metre races and the 200 metre race off (three races in a row). Rowbust edged us out on the 2000 metre race.
Our race times were:
1:38:29
1:39:43 for 400 metres
51:74
54:81
54:41 for 200 metres
2000 K Robust 9:06, Dragons Abreast 9:13
"Earth" participated in the Mississauga Canoe Club - June 12, 2011
regatta.
This was our second qualifier for the Nationals in Welland, which takes place on the July long weekend, (July 1st, 2nd and 3rd).
We arrived pumped and ready to go with the weather cooperating, (no rain). Our first heat was not up to Coach Kim's standards, but "athletes have short memories" so we pulled ourselves together and paddled like stink in the second heat which placed us in the Womens' "A" Division for the final. Yes, the "A" division... and yes, we came in second; bringing home big smiles and shiny silver medals! How happy and proud are we?
Here are our results :
First Round:
Rowbust 59.5
Earth 59.9
Sisters in Sync 1.003
Wonderbroads 1.012
Second Round
Outer Harbour 52.35
Earth 59.5
Erin Oak Kids 1.04.78
Ridgtown Women 112.7
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Final "A" Division
Stonehookers 56.8
Earth 58.7
Senior Womens Crew 1.005
Sisters in Sync 1.013
Final "B" Division
Wonderbroads 1.00.6
Robust 1.01.7
N'Sync 1.02.6
Phoenix 1.02.6
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WELLAND HERE WE COME!
World Conference on Breast Cancer, Hamilton June 7th - 11th, 2011
I want to thank Dragons Abreast Toronto for sponsoring my registration at the 6th World Conference on Breast Cancer.
This was an amazing event, and it has been very helpful in my recovery from recent surgery. It was inspiring to meet so many people with a common interest - the end of Breast Cancer by 2020. There were about 500 in attendance, with approximately half of them survivors from more than 30 countries.
This conference brings together breast cancer survivors, advocates, health-care professionals and researchers from around the world. The goal of the conference is to improve breast cancer awareness, prevention and treatment through knowledge exchange and global networking.
It was an awsome and happy experience for me.
It was great to see Dragon's Abreast Team Mates in attendance, and to have our book, "How to Ride a Dragon" being distributed freely.
I strongly encourage support for the next conference, 3 years from now (possibly in Calgary).
Read More...
Dragons Abreast sponsored me to atend the recent World Conference on Breast Cancer.
I was impressed with the
calibre of speakers locally and from all over the world.
There were speakers who discussed issues which included cultural, social, financial and political
barriers to diagnosis and treatment for women in many countries.
A comman theme was the need for world
wide education to emphasize the importance of early detection to prevent loss of life.
Video documentation of young women's needs after diagnosis of breast cancer was important to me.
I found a symposium on "Cancer related brain fog" to be particularly enlightening and somewhat comforting.
programs are available to deal with this
phenominum...
The Wind Crew had a great day in Port Perry --Saturday June 18!
The weather was perfect - hot and windy-just the way we like it;
The Dragonflies did an amazing job of running the event ; and we brought back BLING!
The crew took home the Gold in the BCS
Challenge
and our name will be engraved on the stunning carved dragon trophy which is
kept in Port Perry.
We also won silver in the Women's B Division.
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Fire in Hamilton - - - July 9, 2011
Can you believe being stuck in traffic on the QEW at 6:45am on a Saturday morning! That’s how Fire Power’s day started . . . but it got better from there.
We had 6, count ‘em – 6, races! 3 x 500m; 2 x 200 and the mighty 2000. What an introduction for our new paddlers, Cathy, Linda and Sydney.
With just 2 BCS teams, the BCS race included other women’s crews. But, the flower ceremony was no less touching and, as many as I’ve done, they just never get easier . . .
After, tweaking lineups, trying faster/slower starts and giving our all, we won our division! Everyone, but especially the new paddlers, was excited and thrilled to have gold medals presented at our private little medal ceremony, complete with continental kisses.
We were the only BCS team in our 2,000m set and came in 5th out of 17 teams with a time of 10 mins 2 secs. We were more than happy. Our goal was for no-one to lap us and NOBODY did! I think that was the highlight of the day. Those who had never done a 2k before came away wanting to do another . . .
Hamilton is a great venue, not too big and not too small. Knot A Breast was our gracious hostess team – breakfast included Tim’s coffee (Yeahhhhh!) and lunch was a veritable cornucopia! Plus the beer was REALLY cold! The weather was great - hot but not humid. Well organized, a lot of varied racing. A really positive start for paddlers attending their first regatta.
CAPE BRETON - - - July 22-23, 2011
It began on Friday July 22nd while Phyllis, Nikki and Gayle enjoyed a local beer on the porch
of the Governor's Pub in Sydney Nova scotia.
Noticing the Nova Scotia tartan kilt on their server, they asked if she had any extra tartan laying around,
that they could wear to the Meet and Greet that evening. To their surprise, less than 5 minutes later she
returned with 3 Kilts, one for each of them.
No names, phones numbers or deposits were exchanged. (Yes that would happen in Toronto!!!)...And so the week end began.
On the Friday night all the teams and supporters were invited to a meet and Greet and GREAT dinner.
We had a full course turkey dinner with all the trimmings, and home made pies for dessert.
There were speeches, skits by the cape Breastoners, slide shows and finally a local group played
and dancing followed. Every paddler left with a gift bag.
...WHAT HOSPITALITY!!
Saturday morning began with a complimentary breakfast for survivors with a guest speaker and entertainment,
followed by a fun day by the lake , games, boat tours of the lake, dragon boating , entertainment by
Nick and the tall boys and a BBQ....all courtesy of the Cape Breastoners.
7:00 that evening was the parade of athletes on the Boardwalk of Sydney harbour..kicking off the festival...
Sunday morning began with a short walk to the venue.
We were welcomed with...let's just say..bigger waves than we are use to, with as much water coming into the
boat as was staying out..
Close to a second place finish in the first race..with our drummer holding
on for dear life.
Even higher waves in our second race.
The 3rd race was cancelled.
We came home with THE BRONZE MEDAL!!
The carnation ceremony was moved up due to the weather and it was beautiful.
Lunch followed, compliments of the Cape Breastoners.
While we came away with medals..we came away with much, much more. We were treated royally by our hosts,
we had hours of laughter, and have gained unbelievable respect and gratitude for the Cape Breastoners.
Crew Wind Travelled to Burlington Vermont - - - Aug 6-7, 2011
Burlington, Vermont was a beautiful venue with the mountains in the background and we were blessed
with gorgeous weather.
The light drizzle was actually quite pleasant on Sunday morning and rain capes were handed out but few
chose to wear them, saving them for a more deliberate rainfall!
The Dragon Heart team was welcoming and very organized.
There were workshops on paddling, even the seasoned paddlers learned something new;
Taiko drumming and a singing workshop.
Before our Ben and Jerry's ice- cream social, we got lined up and mixed up so we paddled and competed
with no more than a few members from the same team in a boat; what fun and a fabulous way to meet new BC paddlers!
Before we went, we were told that the water was quite choppy at times and they would provide us with steers
although we had one of the best, our Akky and good water, the lake co-operated.
Warm-ups were done for all teams before each race by a Zumba instructor- Amazing!
The flower ceremony was lovely and very moving. The hosting team had lost one of their members that week.
They had a choir perform the song "Smile" which we had learned in the singing workshop.
In the end, we brought home third in the Breast Cancer division, 2.2 seconds between 1st and 3rd,
truly an exciting race!
A long bus ride and co-captain Lorraine managed to get across the border with no passport.
I think I can speak for others as well as myself, I'd go again in a heartbeat!
Thanks to Louise for all her hard work in securing the cheapest bus and accommodations and to Astrid,
Shelley and Lorraine for our "cheer" that won best cheer!! Check it out on the website.
Paddles Up!
Crew Fire in Prnce Edward county - Wellington Lions club Festival - - August 13, 2011
Prince Edward County--WOW! What a blast Team Fire had at these races.
We had 4 -250 races and yes the course has a curve and dumps into Lake Ontario. Very cool!
We are proud to report our team effort won us the gold in the Breast Cancer Division.
Everyone got to experience the sense of a team unit in a pleasant, friendly environment.
From the feedback I have received people felt this was the perfect venue for new paddlers as well as those who just want a no pressure paddle.(This does't mean we didn't paddle our butts off)
I am soo proud of this team!
Paddles Up,
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