REGATTAS - Results & Reports
GREAT LAKES PEARL DRAGONS REGATTA
27 & 28 March 2022
Some great photos of us, courtesy of Great Lakes Advocate newspaper...
(to view full size, right click and select 'open image in new tab')
(to view full size, right click and select 'open image in new tab')
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In probably the wettest weekend on record for Great Lakes Pearl Dragon Regatta, Wallis Spirit Dragons achieved some ‘firsts’:
- the first time that many of us competed in 6 sprint races in a day
- the first time that 3 of us competed in a regatta
- the first time that 2 of us competed in a 2kms race
- the first time 1 of us drummed three races plus the 2kms
- the first time 1 of us swept two races
- the first time 1 of us couldn’t be at a regatta because she’s recovering from Covid.
The 2kms
We combined with the Pinkwater Pinks and had 19 paddlers in all. The winning time was 11.56.06, our time was 13.13.28. 
The Women’s 10s
This was the event we were all waiting for. 10 Wallis Spirit paddlers, a WSD sweep and a WSD drummer – just us and nobody else! And did we make the most of it – 3rd out of 4 boats in our first race (0.02 secs between 3rd and 2nd place)! By the time it came to our last race of the day, we didn’t have much left but came in 3rd. |
The Sports Women
With Sally as Sweep we combined with the SUDU women and came 2nd out of 3 boats in our first heat and 2nd out of 3 boats in our second heat. Great consistency! We also paddled with SUDU in
The Sports Mixed There were 12 WSD and 4 SUDU men on the boat. We came 3rd out of 4 boats in our first heat and 4th in our second heat, missing out on 3rd by less than 0.02 of a second! 
The Men’s 10s
Brian was one of 8 men in the boat with paddlers from Kalang River and South West Rocks. |
He might have been surprised but we weren't.
Congratulations to Sweep Brian who did a great job. Two more races then genuine L3 sweep. |
First Timers!
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Coach/Drummer Elaine &
Sweep/Coach/Drummer Sally. What a great day. Thanks. |
JINDABYNE REGATTA
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WSDB paddlers Brian, Elaine, Janne, Jenny, Lyn, Pat, Robyn and Simone, plus Bill boat wrangler and a selection of supportive partners meandered down the road to Garrigill Lodge, Simone and Geoff’s home, for days of relaxation, decadence, walking, fishing and the paddling.
Saturday’s twilight 2km paddle had 8 tight turns in an unbalanced boat, and swell from the safety boat that has us slipping and sliding across the seats into fellow paddlers’ laps. We were all grateful to be just damp. Fabulous lead stroke Pat set a solid pace that the WSDB paddlers were well and truly prepared, if not over prepared for, none of us raised sweat nor a breathless intake of air. Thanks Elaine, Chris and Sally. Setting a steady pace we made ground on the other crews. Sunday - an early start - thankfully saw us get two paddles for the mixed team, and 1 paddle for the women’s and men’s teams. Then the wind whipped up, sweeps were blown off boats and the races were cancelled. We packed up and headed back to the ambience of Garrigill. We enjoyed days of walking in Kosciusko NP, fishing in the dam for trout and yabbies, competitive shuffleboard, dining out and the fabulous meals prepared by the couples rivalled any fancy restaurant. |
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Thank you to everyone. The teamwork was fabulous and appreciated by all.
Janne Moran, WSD Regatta Co-ordinator
Janne Moran, WSD Regatta Co-ordinator
KEMPSEY REGATTA - 27 & 28 July 2019
Wow, wow, wow! What a weekend. Our first time ever at a regatta for a maximum 10 paddlers in a 20's boat and boy, did we do well - on and off the water. Read on.
2 KMS TURN RACE
This is not strictly a marathon and it is definitely not a sprint. It is described as a "sweep's race". There are 3 tight turns requiring great communication and rapport between paddlers and sweep. WSD participated with Hunter River Dragons. Janne, Pat and Brian paddled, Sally swept and Elaine drummed. Janne had not been paddling much, Sally had never swept a 2kms race, Elaine relished the idea of yelling encouragement but keeping an eye on paddlers' faces and Pat and Brian just thought "yes, we love the competition".
Remember, this was a 2 kms turn race with 10 paddlers competing against the clock and 9 other crews. The WSD/Hunter River Dragons combo went out 2nd in their heat with 20 secs separating each of the 3 boats at the start.
The paddlers were brilliant, Sally was fantastic, the drummer found it hard to contain her excitement and the WSD/Hunter River Dragon combo made up enough time to pip the first boat at the finish. The final result was 4th out of 10 boats - one almighty effort and a HUGE buzz. Sally was over the moon at how the paddlers responded at her "lift" calls and they just kept on keeping on.
THE SPRINTS
You'll remember that we could only participate in the women's and men's events, not the mixed. The women were up first and we competed against one other crew in our first race (the width of the Macleay River at Kempsey meant there was a maximum of 3 boats in a race). We had an unfortunate start "thanks" to the official starter but we made up time and so very nearly came first. We paddled really well - the strokes set a great rate and we just went for it. Christine Semark apologised afterwards for yelling out "let's go for it"! Did we care? Not a bit of it. We just loved being WSD doing our thing. Our second race was even better - it all came together. Great start, great race rate, great paddling, 2nd in our heat.
Brian paddled with the Titivators in the men's event and did what Brian does best - putting everything into it. He's a great ambassador for WSD and never has a problem getting into a men's crew. If only he could be in a WSD mixed crew!!
BUT WAIT... THERE'S MORE!
This regatta had a theme and it was - surprise! - Christmas in July. A prize was offered for the best dressed gazebo. WSD's idea was Santa's Workshop. Wrapped "presents", toolbox, Elf roster, Christmas themed cakes etc etc were all part of the look. So, who won? WSD of course!! Well done to those who came up with the idea and those who helped bring it all to fruition.
And then there was the raffle. There's always a raffle. Lots of prizes, lots of tickets sold but Christine Semark and your truly won 2 of them (but I have no idea what!)
IN APPRECIATION ...
To Sally, who took on the bulk of coaching to get us fit enough to even contemplate competing in a 10's competition.
To Chris and Lindy who stepped up as sweep and drummer to ensure we could compete with a full crew of 10 paddlers rather than the minimum 8.
To the non-Kempsey WSD paddlers who came out in the cold so we could get the big boat out in the mornings.
To Sally, again, for booking the accommodation and fabulous Thai restaurant.
To Derek and John for being a great support team and giving us valuable feedback.
To Bunny and Pippy (apologies if I have the wrong spelling) for behaving so well.
To all the WSD crew for being a great bunch of people who were always so positive!
Well done Wallis Spirit. Let's do it again in 2020!
Elaine July 2019.
The paddlers were brilliant, Sally was fantastic, the drummer found it hard to contain her excitement and the WSD/Hunter River Dragon combo made up enough time to pip the first boat at the finish. The final result was 4th out of 10 boats - one almighty effort and a HUGE buzz. Sally was over the moon at how the paddlers responded at her "lift" calls and they just kept on keeping on.
THE SPRINTS
You'll remember that we could only participate in the women's and men's events, not the mixed. The women were up first and we competed against one other crew in our first race (the width of the Macleay River at Kempsey meant there was a maximum of 3 boats in a race). We had an unfortunate start "thanks" to the official starter but we made up time and so very nearly came first. We paddled really well - the strokes set a great rate and we just went for it. Christine Semark apologised afterwards for yelling out "let's go for it"! Did we care? Not a bit of it. We just loved being WSD doing our thing. Our second race was even better - it all came together. Great start, great race rate, great paddling, 2nd in our heat.
Brian paddled with the Titivators in the men's event and did what Brian does best - putting everything into it. He's a great ambassador for WSD and never has a problem getting into a men's crew. If only he could be in a WSD mixed crew!!
BUT WAIT... THERE'S MORE!
This regatta had a theme and it was - surprise! - Christmas in July. A prize was offered for the best dressed gazebo. WSD's idea was Santa's Workshop. Wrapped "presents", toolbox, Elf roster, Christmas themed cakes etc etc were all part of the look. So, who won? WSD of course!! Well done to those who came up with the idea and those who helped bring it all to fruition.
And then there was the raffle. There's always a raffle. Lots of prizes, lots of tickets sold but Christine Semark and your truly won 2 of them (but I have no idea what!)
IN APPRECIATION ...
To Sally, who took on the bulk of coaching to get us fit enough to even contemplate competing in a 10's competition.
To Chris and Lindy who stepped up as sweep and drummer to ensure we could compete with a full crew of 10 paddlers rather than the minimum 8.
To the non-Kempsey WSD paddlers who came out in the cold so we could get the big boat out in the mornings.
To Sally, again, for booking the accommodation and fabulous Thai restaurant.
To Derek and John for being a great support team and giving us valuable feedback.
To Bunny and Pippy (apologies if I have the wrong spelling) for behaving so well.
To all the WSD crew for being a great bunch of people who were always so positive!
Well done Wallis Spirit. Let's do it again in 2020!
Elaine July 2019.