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Local athletes help Team Canada place second at world dragon boat championships

Victoria-based Tom Arnold took on the role as head coach for one of the teams for the first time
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Team Canada placed second at the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championship in Thailand in August. (File contributed/Tom Arnold)

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national dragon boat team has walked away with 85 medals, placing second overall at the International Dragon Boat Federation Racing Championships which took place in Pattaya, Thailand at the end of August.

Of note was the Senior B team (age 50 plus), which took home 15 medals from 15 events, something that head coach Tom Arnold is extremely proud of.

B次元官网网址淚t was a thrilling experience,B次元官网网址 Arnold said. B次元官网网址淚 think anytime you represent your country itB次元官网网址檚 a thrill, but for me this was my first time coaching a Canadian national teamB次元官网网址 that was a challenge and very exciting.B次元官网网址

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A majority of the Senior B teamB次元官网网址檚 athletes originate from Vancouver Island, with 22 coming from VI Paddling, and others coming from the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club and Latitude 48 Paddling.

Other athletes from the team came from across the country, something Arnold thought was both a strength and a challenge.

B次元官网网址淎 huge part of it is that Canada just has tremendous talent in dragon boats,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淏ut with athletes from across the country we donB次元官网网址檛 get to practise together often, so thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of trust in the trainingB次元官网网址 We got to Thailand and had four practice days together and hoped it would work, and luckily it did.B次元官网网址

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Arnold adds that the sport is something designed for athletes of all calibres B次元官网网址 from lifelong competitors to complete novices. The youngest competitor on the national team this year was 12, while the oldest was 71.

B次元官网网址淭he amazing thing about this sport is youB次元官网网址檙e never too old or too young to compete at a high-performance sport,B次元官网网址 Arnold said, adding that heB次元官网网址檚 already looking forward to the next competition. B次元官网网址淭he next world championship in two years. WeB次元官网网址檙e hopeful weB次元官网网址檒l be able to lead the team again.B次元官网网址

nicole.crescenzi@vicnews.com


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VI Paddling coaching team Trish Crumpton (left), Mallorie Nicholson, Andree St Denis, Tom Arnold, Andrea Keenan, and Verlie Martin at the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championship in Pattaya Thailand in August. (File contributed/ Tom Arnold)




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