A large contingent from our club arrived at Derwentwater Marina keen to show other local clubs how lots of training, good technique and commitment would work wonders when taken out of our usual race-boat context and transferred to Tiger boats. Tiger boats are mini-dragon boats: big canoes, paddled by a team of 10 paddlers with a drummer up-front to keep everyone paddling in time and a helm at the back to keep everyone paddling in a (reasonably) straight line. For this evening's friendly (try telling Scott it was a friendly!) match there was a series of timed races with the fastest teams going on to knock-out semis and, eventually, a head-to-head final.
Between races the Marina had provided a BBQ and the smell of burgers, steaks and bangers wafting towards the lake became something of distraction (for me at least) throughout the evening.
Since DCC had turned out in force we had far more paddlers than required; the adults took turns crewing with our youngsters and, sure enough, we found ourselves well up on the leader board after the heats; at one point we had set the second fastest time and found that our efforts were plenty good enough to see us through to the semi finals!
Despite a very close run semi final, including protest lodged by our (non-DCC) helm against an all-adult Copeland CC team whose helm was also paddling rather than steering (see just how "friendly" we were being?), we were just squeezed out at the end of a blistering finish. The final between Copeland and Penrith was almost an anti-climax after such a spirited display of teamwork and focus, so I'm not going to bother recording who the eventual winners were*.
Thanks to everyone who made the trip to Keswick, be they from Duddon or other clubs, to the event organisers and to the Marina for the use of their boats and hosting the event. It was a fun evening and I'm sure that Penrith* will only be babysitting that trophy until we get another shot at bringing it home next year!
* OK - it was Penrith in the end... well done ladies and gents.
Between races the Marina had provided a BBQ and the smell of burgers, steaks and bangers wafting towards the lake became something of distraction (for me at least) throughout the evening.
Since DCC had turned out in force we had far more paddlers than required; the adults took turns crewing with our youngsters and, sure enough, we found ourselves well up on the leader board after the heats; at one point we had set the second fastest time and found that our efforts were plenty good enough to see us through to the semi finals!
Despite a very close run semi final, including protest lodged by our (non-DCC) helm against an all-adult Copeland CC team whose helm was also paddling rather than steering (see just how "friendly" we were being?), we were just squeezed out at the end of a blistering finish. The final between Copeland and Penrith was almost an anti-climax after such a spirited display of teamwork and focus, so I'm not going to bother recording who the eventual winners were*.
Thanks to everyone who made the trip to Keswick, be they from Duddon or other clubs, to the event organisers and to the Marina for the use of their boats and hosting the event. It was a fun evening and I'm sure that Penrith* will only be babysitting that trophy until we get another shot at bringing it home next year!
* OK - it was Penrith in the end... well done ladies and gents.
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