Sporting Groups in Seoul, South Korea, dragon boat racing

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ANZCCK Dragonboating Success

Sunday 30th May was the usual overcast hazy Seoul day but it was also the 5th Day of the Sea festival, when (among other things) the Korean Dragon Boat Association hold a regular competition, open even to foreigners such as your average Antipodean with little else to occupy his or her weekend.

So it was that the ANZCCK decided (or perhaps it was Jonno) to enter a team. Over the preceding weeks a motley crew (no pun intended) of somewhat elderly or (youthful), but mostly beer bellied, ANZCCK members wandered down to the banks of the Han River to practice. In true Australasian style the practice was laid back, and most weeks your author attended, more time was spent determining the amount of beer that could be consumed afterwards than actually pulling strokes on the river. But then the ANZCCK only attracts gifted amateurs so why worry?

Some weeks it rained, some weeks it didn't. But a solid (in some cases very solid!) core of volunteers turned up. We made friends with the Americans, the Europeans, the Canadians and many others, and despite our apparent laidbackishness, when they fell away, we were still there. We sometimes sailed in circles (thanks to the 3 different sweeps who on that fateful last practice found that there was more to the art of sweeping than sitting at the back of the boat and holding on!), we sometimes sailed in straight lines and we sometimes got a bit wet. We encountered more floating dead fish and rats (says something about the water quality?) than we should have. Sometimes the over exuberant paddler in front decided that you needed to have a drink of the Han. (I had my jabs though! I'm all right!) Sometimes we turned up to find we were not where we should have been, or the boats were elsewhere. But despite all those small difficulties, over the weeks we bonded.

The final day of competition came. As we strolled past the marathon runners who were setting off that morning I remember thinking that I'd rather be up for a quick paddle on the river than going for a 10 k run. That of course was on the assumption that, faced with Korean might and Korean expertise, we'd be in and out of the boat, soundly thrashed and back home for lunch. Indeed my pessimism was misplaced. Antipodean bulk, Antipodean muscle and Antipodean will to win at all costs saw us surge off the start line in the first race (which appeared to be somehow set up for only foreigners?) and comprehensively destroy the opposition. Now this article will of course be read by those in others chambers and organizations and it isn't right to gloat but……….… enough said.

So amazingly we were in the final with the fastest time of the day. Hyundai (who won last year) looked at us with amazement. We looked at ourselves with amazement too, but having got this far, we were determined to give it our all.

Sadly "our all" meant a start in the final that was somewhat less organized and forceful than the first race. Rather than a smooth powerful pull away from the others, leaving them in our dust (not sure you can do that in the water …Ed) we thrashed in our excitement and Hyundai stole a march on us. But we were catching up at the end. If only another 50 metres and we might have done it!

We were presented with wonderful silver medals, a cup and a plaque. The team is and should be proud of itself and bringing the ANZCCK into such high esteem. We'll be back next year to win!

Thanks to Tim Hossack for his provision of "softies" over the weeks, and to Jonathan Sharrock for his organization and commitment. If anyone wants to offer their services for future events get in touch with Jonathan.

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Sports Clubs in Seoul, South Korea