Race Report - Cardiff League Event, 8th July 2007

The Runners and Riders

Premier Teams	Standard Teams
Bristol Empire Dragons Kingston Royals Thames Taniwhas BA Hurricanes WAM Amathus DBC Henley Dragons Amathus Bees Three River Serpents	Exe-Calibre Worcester Dragons Thames Raging Dragons Colenorton Secklow 100 Amathus Wasps Notts Anaconda Cardiff Power Blades

Junior Teams	Scratch Teams
Amathus Dragon Jockey	Fallen Angels

The Report

Following on from another wet event at Nottingham and a disappointing result we came to Cardiff to be greeted by sunshine and a team bolstered by some virgin dragon boat itching to get in the boat and experience a race for the first time.  Ben was returning to his former dragon’s lair and was keen to show his new colours.

Two of team spent most of the morning trying to find Atlantic Wharf and circled the venue quite a few times before being directed to it.  For such a big place its strange how many “locals” don’t know where it is – or is it a Cardiff Power Blade ploy to lose rival team members in Cardiff?

For once Bristol were not up against their nemesis that is BA Hurricanes instead we got Thames Taniwhas, Colenorton and Cardiff.  On the line for the 200 metres and still not a distance that we relish and the first race is always our worst performance.  At the off there was nothing between the Taniwhas and us but by the end in what seemed a very close race we came second behind the Taniwhas in a reasonable 55.04.  Whilst we were initially disappointed the time was good enough to miss the repechages and put us into the semis.  As luck would have it we were placed alongside the Taniwhas once again.  This time they shot off the start line leaving us in their wake.  Sadly not only did they beat us but so did Kingston and Raging Dragons respectively – our time was a disappointing 57.54.  That put us 7th on times.

For the 500 metre races we were up against the Taniwhas, Colenorton and Cardiff once again.  We had raced previously in the 200’s and were all aware of each others capabilities.  Bristol like the 500 metre races and we didn’t disappoint ourselves.  At the start we actually pulled ahead of the Taniwhas only for them to power past we stuck to our stroke and we pulled back ending less than a second behind them in a time of 1:58:64 to their 1:57:64.  This was a great race and despite finishing second gave us heart for the rest of the racing as we had posted the fastest runner-up time so far.  It was now down to the other teams still to race to beat this time.  No team did so we were into the semis. 

Time for lunch and what a lunch – Ben and Gill provided a vegetarian Indian lunch of samosas and all manner of other savouries that the team eagerly devoured.  Little did we know that this spread had hidden powers in terms of performance – Samosa Power!!  Thanks Ben and Gill for such a kind gesture it was great!

The semis loomed and we were drawn against.. you guessed it the Taniwhas!!  Henley and Amathus Bees.  It wasn’t going to be easy and not only that we found that the initial 500 metre races were in fact around 470 metres.  So now we were racing the full distance and a fired up Taniwhas team out to put us in our place.

Well the usual start and the familiar out come Taniwhas first and Bristol second.  The time didn’t really show that we were still close to the Taniwhas but the time was respectable for the conditions with a head on wind picking up.  Taniwhas 2:12:90 and Bristol 2:16:51.  We now waited anxiously for the other times and for the conditions to stay unchanged.  Some close racing by the other teams but we clinched the best runner up time and with that our first major final.  Fantastic!

After what seemed an age the major final was upon us and we were placed in the far lane against Taniwhas, Amathus and Three Rivers.  The conditions deteriorated and we did our best to maintain our position on the line the three other crews jostling for position.  We were off but well off the pace and battling the wind that was really blowing down the far side of the wharf.  The other teams closed in on one another and ended with some very close racing between the boats.  We ended in 4th place but that was still a great result and one that has buoyed the team.

All the crew enjoyed the day our virgin racers were bloodied and eager for more – there is nothing like a race to hook the new members.

Ian Elliott

The Bristol Empire Dragons' Boat

Drummer	Will Edwards
Crew	Left Side	Right Side
	Del Kyme (Coach)	Shaw Beattie (Club Captain)
	Pam Beattie	Ian Elliott
	Gary Corr (Vice Captain)	Candy Elliott
	Rachel Carlyon	Ceri Angus
	Gary Edwards	Gary Cannard
	Chris Rusworth	Bob Meridith
	Tim Donovan	Matt Hodgson
	Dave Johnson	Rob Britton
	Ginnett Corr	Adam Mills
	Ben Callaghan	Darren Duval
	Bharti Tailor	Lloyd Khan
	Michael Duval
Helm	Bill Beattie (Assistant Coach)
Team Manager	Shaw Beattie

Results of the 500meters

Premier	Crew	Points	Position Overall on the Day
1st	Amathus BDC	16	1st
2nd	Thames Taniwhas	15	2nd
3rd	Three River Serpents	14	3rd
4th	Bristol Empire Dragons	13	4th
5th	BA Hurricanes	12	5th
6th	Henley	11	6th
7th	Kingston Royals	10	7th
8th	Amathus Bees	9	9th
9th	WAM	8	14th

Standard	Crew	Points	Position Overall on the Day
1st	Raging Dragons	16	8th
2nd	Colenorton	15	10th
3rd	Secklow 100	14	11th
4th	Worcester Dragons	13	12th
5th	Exe-Calibre	12	13th
6th	Notts Anaconda	11	16th
7th	Amathus Wasps	10	18th
8th	Cardiff Power Blades	9	20th

Junior	Crew	Points	Position Overall on the Day
1st	Amathus Dragon Jockeys	16	17th

Scratch	Crew	Points	Position Overall on the Day
1st	Fallen Angels		17th