This is the first year Black Dragons have competed in the AusDBF Australian Championships Club Crews competition. Twenty five members traveled to Perth to participate, with a of total of 16 being of the age to to compete in the Masters and Grand Masters categories, requiring many of those paddlers to also compete in the Open categories. Black Dragons entered three events each day - over 1000 metres, 500 metres and 200 metres.

One of the highlights for the club was to compete, and earn a place, in the major final of the Premier Open event (500 metres)!

For more information on the clubs participation, please read Issue 71 of Dragon Tales.

• 1000 metres: Third in the Masters Open 20’s.
• 500 metres: Third in the Masters Open 20’s.
• 200 metres: Third in the Masters Open 20’s.
  
• Other results include:
  1000 metres: Premier Mixed 20's major finalist.
  500 metres: Premier Open 20's major finalist.
  200 metres: Premier Mixed 20's minor finalist, and Premier Open 20's first in minor final.
  
• Our best freshwater times were 4.11 mins (1000 metres), 2.02 mins (500 metres) and 49 sec (200 metres).
  
• Black Dragons Dragon Boat Club ranked 8th overall among the 18 teams competing in the club crews regatta.

Around 24 Black Dragons members combined forces with other South Australian Dragon Boat clubs to form a fiercely competitive State team with great camaraderie and success.

This season was quite successful for Black Dragons, taking out the State titles in the Premier Open 20’s (200 metres), Premier Mixed 10's (200 metres) and the Masters Open 20's (500 metres) categories. It is also the first year the race format was changed to the new regatta style competition, racing over two consecutive days for the State titles.

• First in the Premier Open 20’s (200 metres, 49.92 sec), Premier Mixed 10's (200 metres) and Masters Open 20's (500 metres).
• Second in the Premier Open 20's (500 metres), Masters Mixed 20’s (500 metres), Premier Women 10’s (200 metres).
• Third in the Masters Mixed 20's (200 metres) and Grand Masters Mixed 10's (200 metres).
• Fourth in the Premier Mixed 20’s (200 metres, 0.32 sec behind first place) and Premier Mixed 20's (500 metres, 1.20 sec behind first place).

• First in the Premier Mixed 20’s (500 metres) (by 0.72 seconds)
• Second in the Premier Mixed 20’s (800 metres) (by 2.25 seconds)
• Forth in the Premier Open 12’s (800 metres)
• Sixth in the Premier Open 12’s (500 metres)

This is the first time a South Australian dragon boat team has won gold in China, while also being the first time an international team has taken the most prestigious title from the locals.

Throughout the competition, Black Dragons’ were the centre of media attention with every television station, radio station and newspaper interviewing many of the 40 members of Black Dragons’ traveling party (33 competitors, and seven support crew). Every day, photos were published in local newspapers, as well as footage featuring on international television.

Racing on Hong Kong Harbour, Victoria Bay, over a distance of 300 metres, and in a large field of international teams, Black Dragons came 9th and 11th in a field of 70 international teams, in the Premier Mixed 20’s and Premier Open 20’s respectively.

The China – Kong Hong trip was followed by a Civic Reception held at the Adelaide Town Hall and hosted by The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Michael Harbison. Over 50 Black Dragons' members, including supporters, attended the function, held on 12 July 2007.

• First in the Premier Mixed 20’s (500 metres), Premier Open 20’s (200 metres), Premier Mixed 20’s (200 metres), Premier Open 10’s (200 metres) and Premier Open 20’s (500 metres).
• Second in the Masters Open 20’s (500 metres), Masters Mixed 20’s (500 metres), Masters Open 20’s (200 metres), Masters Mixed 20’s (200 metres), Premier Women 10’s (200 metres), Masters Open 10’s (200 metres) and Grand Masters Mixed 10’s (200 metres).
• Third in the Masters Women 10’s (200 metres).
• Fourth in the Premier Mixed 10’s (200 metres).

South Australia Dragon Boat Season 2005 - 06

• First in the Premier Open 10’s (250 metres) and Premier Open 20’s (250 metres)
• Second in the Premier Open 20’s (500 metres) and Masters Women’s 10’s (250 metres)
• Third in the Premier Mixed 20’s (250 metres), Masters Mixed 20’s (500 metres) and Masters Mixed 20’s (250 metres)
• Fourth in the Premier Mixed 20’s (500 metres), Premier Mixed 10’s (250 metres) and Premier Women’s 10’s (250 metres).

Murray Marathon 100 kilometre Challenge, 10 to 12 June 2006

The Murray Marathon 100 kilometre Challenge was competed over three stages: Loxton to Moorook (37 kilometres), Devlins Pound to Waikerie (26 kilometres) and Hogwash Bend to Morgan (30 kilometres).

This is the first time Black Dragons Dragon Boat Club have entered the marathon with only few Dragon Boat teams previously tackling the 100 kilometre distance.

Competing with only 15 paddlers and a sweep, and with all but four paddlers new to the marathon experience, Black Dragons did exceptionally well. Each day was timed and matched to the record pace, and after three days of paddling 100 kilometres and competing against the clock, Black Dragons finished just 10 minutes 14 seconds, or what is the equivalent of 1.89 kilometres, outside of record time.

Day 1:
Distance: 36.02 kilometres
Time: 3 hours, 23 minutes, 09 seconds (record 3:20:07)
Average Speed: 10.6 km/hr
Maximum Speed: 13.4 km/hr (at the start)

Day 2:
Distance: 26 kilometres
Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, 09 seconds (record 2:20:37)
Average Speed: 10.4 km/hr
Maximum Speed: 13.6 km/hr (at Waikerie before finish line)

Day 3:
Distance: 30 kilometres
Time: 2 hours, 39 minutes, 53 seconds (record 2:42:16)
Average Speed: 11.3 km/hr
Maximum Speed: 13.0 km/hr (at the start)

Total Distance: 92.02 km
Total Time: 8 hours, 33 minutes, 15 seconds (record 8:23:01)
Average Speed: 10.8 km/hr

2005

South Australia Dragon Boat Season 2004 - 05

• First in the Premier Open 10’s (250 metres)
• Second in the Premier Mixed 10’s (250 metres)
• Third in the Premier Mixed 20s (250 metres)

26th Anniversary of the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival,
Malaysia, June 2005

Held on the Teluk Bahang Dam, Penang hosted 34 local and 16 international teams competing in the International Dragon Boat Festival. Some of the countries represented from throughout the world included Germany, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia.

Black Dragons Dragon Boat Club competed in six categories, successfully reaching the finals on five occasions.

The club placed third in the Mixed 20’s (500 metres), receiving a bronze medal, and being the only western team competing in an open event to win a medal. Other results for the club included, fourth in the Women’s 10’s (500 metres) and fifth in the Women’s 20’s (500 metres).

2004

25th Anniversary of the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival,
Malaysia, June 2004

Paddlers from different South Australian clubs, with a majority being Black Dragons, formed a team to travel and compete in Penang as the Adelaide City Dragon Boat Racing Club.

54 teams competed in Penang’s milestone event, involving over 31 countries from throughout the world, including Japan, China, United States, Canada and Australia. Out of all of the teams, Adelaide City Dragon Boat Racing Club was ranked and finished a competitive eighth.

In addition to competing, the team developed a partnership with the Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre to use the Dragon Boat Festival to promote the Royal Adelaide Hospital facilities to the Malaysian people, and raise awareness of the need for early detection and treatment of cancer.