The Vancouver Island Paddling ClubB次元官网网址檚 Gorging Dragons returned home from Australia with some hardware.

The local paddlers were in Adelaide competing in the 10th annual International Dragon Boat FederationB次元官网网址檚 Club Crew World Championships from April 1 to 7.

Langford resident Joanne Cowan was one of the athletes competing Down Under and proudly showed off the seven medals she helped earn.

But the road to Australia wasnB次元官网网址檛 easy.

Cowan has been paddling for five years, starting in a recreational league before transitioning to a competitive team.

B次元官网网址淚 was kind of going through withdrawal,B次元官网网址� she recalled about her first season coming to an end. When she heard about a competitive seniors team that was starting up and would be training all year, it seemed like an obvious move, so she tried out.

She made the team and as a whole, the group set their sights on competing at nationals, which happened to be held in Victoria that year. The team placed in the top five at that competition and qualified for the world championships, which were held in Italy.

B次元官网网址淲e were over the moon,B次元官网网址� Cowan said of reaching the worlds. The team paddled away from Italy with bronze and silver medals.

Once back in Canada, the team set a goal of making nationals once again. Last summer it was held in Wellington, Ont., and again the local paddlers finished in the top five, earning their spot to compete in Adelaide.

B次元官网网址淪o off we went to Australia and we did so well. WeB次元官网网址檙e so proud,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just been a trip and a half.B次元官网网址�

The competition offers three age groups for seniors to compete in: A (40 plus), B (50 plus) and C (60 plus). Cowan said the local club sent three C teams and a B team to compete in Australia, and she paddled in seven races with the C teams.

The C womenB次元官网网址檚 2,000 metre race was a strong start for Cowan and the rest of the team. B次元官网网址淥ur goal was to just get out front and stay out in front,B次元官网网址� she said, showing off the gold medal the team won that race.

The 2,000 m race went a little differently for the open division team, which is a mixed-gender boat, filled with the clubB次元官网网址檚 best paddlers. B次元官网网址淚t was so dramatic,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e almost dunked the boat.B次元官网网址�

Waves were washing over both sides of the boat during the race. B次元官网网址淭he seventh member of the team just had to shovel water out of the boat,B次元官网网址� she added, noting he only spent about half the race paddling.

The open team claimed the silver medal for that race.

For the 500 m races, the womenB次元官网网址檚 boat took bronze, the mixed boat claimed silver and the open boat notched another gold medal for the club.

The 200 m race, B次元官网网址渨hich is the fastest race you can imagine,B次元官网网址� said Cowan, saw the open boat win a gold medal, the mixed take a silver and the womenB次元官网网址檚 placed fourth.

B次元官网网址淲e were just blown away B次元官网网址� It was such a reward, all that hard work paying off.B次元官网网址�

But Cowan said they couldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it without their three excellent coaches. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really lucky,B次元官网网址� she added, noting the coaches set the goals and the team practised really hard to meet them.

The competition also opened her eyes to the opportunities in the sport for younger athletes. Cowan stayed in Australia a few extra days to volunteer at the youth races. Seeing all of the young athletes competing, she said, inspired her to get more local youth involved in the sport she loves.

For more information on the Vancouver Island Paddling Club and dragon boat racing go to vipaddling.com.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com