Written by Marion Egan.
While a number of Irish clubs have participated in overseas regattas this year, it’s been a great year for the Suir Dragon Paddlers from Clonmel. They travelled to Valladoid DBR in Spain and competed in temperatures that were well beyond Irish norms. But not a bother to them after their months of training at home.
After a shaky start, they gathered themselves and kept their nerve and improved times and performance in each race, leaving other teams behind. They faced their final race with great determination and focus to come first in their category and proudly bring home the gold back to Ireland. It was a well-deserved end to their months of hard work and training. They are now back home and training for further regattas in Ireland, but they did take a well earned break with a visit to Nore Paddlers in Kilkenny.
Other clubs have been busy meeting up between regattas. Slaney Purple Paddlers from Wexford came to visit Plurabelle Paddlers in Dublin, a day where both clubs came together to paddle, explore the Grand Canal Dock, have a race and then chat over tea and coffee. Meanwhile most clubs have been visiting hosting paddlers from around the country and beyond as we take advantage of the summer season.
Donegal Dragons celebrate their 10th anniversary this year and are holding their annual regatta on August 17th. They will host both Irish and international teams and it’s always a really successful evenThe following week, Cork Dragons are holding their rebel regatta. There are a large number of BCS and women’s teams travelling to Cork for this event, held as always on the beautiful river Lee in Cork city. The regatta season in Ireland will finish in September with a 2 day event on the shores of beautiful Lough Rinn in Leitrim, home to one of Ireland's newest dragon boat clubs, Lough Rinn dragons. A very busy and successful summer season in Ireland.
