Aoraki Dragons South Island Championships 2012

Join the festivities on the grassy banks of Lake Hood, and cheer for your favourite teams as dragon boaters hit the peak of the South Island Paddling season. Wacky uniforms, team haka, loud chants and the beating of the traditional drums create an electrifying atmosphere as corporate teams, club crews and high schools battle it out on the water.

In 2011 we were at Lake Pegasus, but we will return to our 'premium' venue (Lake Hood) in 2012. Teams compete in 500m races in the morning, and then 200 metre Sprint Series in the afternoon finishing with a 2,000 metre Turns Race..

Schedule: Formal proceedings start at about 9:00 am with a captains' briefing. Then racing starts shortly after (9:30 am), with each crew having three heats in 500m and then a 500m Final, plus a heat of 200m and (for the fastest 8 teams) a 200m Sprint Final. Categories will be mixed schools, boys' schools, girls' schools, and adult.

09:30 - First Race. Heat 1 of 500 metres.
10:30 - Second Round. Heat 2 of 500 metres.
11:30 - Third Round. Heat 3 of 500 metres.
From 12:30 to 13:00 is lunch (or catch up).
13:00 - Finals of 500 metres. Girls B, Girls A, Mixed/Boys, Adult B and Adult A.
14:00 - Fifth Round, just one Heat of 200 metre races.
15:00 - Finals of 200 metre sprints. Open to adult or schools, top 8 places race a Minor Final and a Grand Sprint Final.
16:00 - 2km Turns Race, three 'Flights" of up to 6 - 10 boats
Racing finishes around 5:30 pm.

Races are run at 10 minutes intervals, with up to four boats per race. Races may include company-backed teams, sports club teams and BCS (Breast Cancer Survivor) teams in the same heats, as well as school squads.

Trophy presentation will be immediately after the last race.

Aoraki Dragon Boat Association Inc is a not-for-profit collective that represents teams in Christchurch, to develop the competitive sport, providing facilities, boats and event organisation.

Event listed by Noel Anderton

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