Dragon Boat Festival 2009

The Dragon Boat Race Event 2009

A triumph! Best one yet!

Mother Nature owed us a good day, and despite the awful forecasts, the day was perfect. We had a full programme of 36 boats and we still had two late applications that we couldn't accept.  Two months ago we only had 22 boats but, with a lot of contacts, we reached our full flotilla. Richard Barron and Andrew both sponsored a boat for their firms and the Allitts, bless them, sponsored two boats, one for the University Rotaract Club and one for local Scouts. The other clubs found the other 32 boats, fortunately, but at least our Club was well represented on the committee.  Surely we have contacts too?

The Borough Council helped enormously with mowing the site and keeping the river banks free of thistles and weeds and the Sea Cadets spent several hours on the Saturday morning clearing the river of debris. The Nene is not very wide there and, for three boats to race, all rubbish must be removed. I wish I had the photo of Andrew nearly up to his knees in the river trying to pull a willow out (see the gallery above)!

Racing was very competitive, as usual, and our regulars were sorely challenged by energetic new teams. Large crowds enjoyed the event, possibly because of the wonderful weather but also because of Caroline's tremendous publicity work. Only three boats capsized this year, crew very wet but no real injuries, just to pride.

Midsummer meadow has a new mooring bay, very posh, marvellous for three Dragon boats and there is a new path straight through the middle of the teams' village and the atmosphere there was very infectious. Flags, BBQs, picnics, cold beers and Pimms (from Andrew's gazebo - recommended) and lots of acting up and dressing up for the racing. Crates of wine for the first, second and third with more wine for the best team names (C.R.A.P. Rowers tied with the very topical A. I. Bank's "Staying Afloat"). The best dressed crew came from the ITU at the NGH. The prettiest crew we've ever had! Rotary rules with Rotary on the winners rostrum!  Roger Clarke (West) brought his Pattishall Paddlers to 1st place and our Apollo, was 3rd.

There were stalls, a good variety of food vendors (both pig roasts ran out - they were excellent!), beer tent of course and the Rotary tea and scone tent was very popular. A Shelterbox was laid out near the Rotary tent and, although they were not allowed to sponsor us this year, the Allied Irish Bank did enter a boat and paid me for a new Shelterbox. A fairground, children's amusements and the TA did us proud with some of their equipment, hot food tent and competitions.

More displays, a fire engine, good live entertainment on the stage all day and Boobs and Brass (ladies brass band) showed us why they have such a tremendous reputation. Wonderful!

We enjoyed two visits from the Air Ambulance and lots of people had the opportunity to examine it before they were called out. Our usual Lancaster bomber circled low and, a couple of hours later, the Red Arrows shot across the site. Far too quickly but wonderful to see.

A tremendous day and we attracted four or five new names who already want a boat for next year.  We also had a visit from the Nene Valley Dragons (a few clubs around the Oundle area) who will be staging their own event next year and had heard of our (well deserved) excellent reputation.

A lot of work, this year is the sixth and we are still learning. A lot of fun too and it is great to see all five clubs coming together to make this a major event for the town and for Rotary. It is a pity that only 22 out of our club members were able to help because this is the largest event in the year and it is a wonderful platform to show off Rotary to the general public.

Too early to predict the outcome, but I am optimistic. 150,000 in five years and I hope we will maintain the average this year. The Air Ambulance and the Cynthia Spencer Hospice will share half the proceeds and the remainder will be shared between the five clubs (ignoring my 5%).
Jim Buckby