They went. They paddled. They conquered.
The Gorging Dragons, VI Paddling (VIP) SocietyB次元官网网址檚 high-performance dragon boat racing team, medalled in nine of their 12 events at the 2018 Club Crew World Championship (CCWC) in Szeged, Hungary this month.
This CCWC, held July 16B次元官网网址�22, hosted more than 140 crews (6000+ participants) from more than 30 nations.
The Olympic Centre of Szeged hosted the 200 and 500 metre events on a 40-hectare racing site. The 2,000 metre event B次元官网网址� staggered starts with multiple teams and thrilling buoy turns every 500 metres B次元官网网址� was raced on the fast-flowing Tisza River in the centre of Szeged in the final days of the competition.
The Vancouver Island-based Gorging Dragons, led by head coach Tom Arnold, qualified at the Canadian National Dragon Boat Championships last year to enter four crews in standard (20-paddler) dragon boats B次元官网网址� senior B (age 50+) women, senior C (age 60+) women, senior C open (age 60+, men/women) and Senior C mixed (age 60+, 10 men/10 Women) B次元官网网址� in the CCWC.
There was a strong field of international competitors against whom the Gorging Dragons won medals in multiple distances.
Medals won by the VIP Gorging Dragons at the 2018 CCWC by competition class:
Senior B women
B次元官网网址� Gold - 500 metre
B次元官网网址� Bronze - 200 metre
B次元官网网址� Bronze - 2000 metre
Senior C women
B次元官网网址� Silver - 500 metre
B次元官网网址� Bronze - 200 metre
Senior C mixed
B次元官网网址� Silver - 2,000 metre
B次元官网网址� Bronze - 500 metre
Senior C open
B次元官网网址� Bronze - 500 metre
B次元官网网址� Bronze - 2000 metre
B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 so impressive about this result is the people behind it,B次元官网网址� Arnold said. B次元官网网址淭hey are parents and grandparents who discovered an activity that they loved, worked hard to get better, and have become world-class athletes in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. They inspire me every day, and remind me that almost anything is possible through hard workB次元官网网址� at any age.B次元官网网址�
The Gorging Dragons team train year round at their Victoria and Comox bases. They hail from across the Island with several from the BC Gulf Islands and mainland.
