Ten of Narooma’s paddlers joined up with 10 paddlers from Northern Beaches Dragon Boat Club to test their stamina against some of Sydney’s strongest paddlers.

This year, windy conditions made the usual course too dangerous and so the route was changed to a trip up McCarr’s Creek and back.

In spite of never having paddled with Northern Beaches, Blue Water Dragons’ weekly endurance training meant that strength and fitness were never going to be an issue.  While the other crews had visibly tired towards the end of the race, Narooma’s paddlers still had enough left to finish strongly.

The combined Narooma/Northern Beaches team managed a credible second place with 52 minutes for the 9kms. This was with six male and 14 female paddlers against the other teams that had 10 male and 10 female paddlers.

Peter Doolan, who was competing in his second Scotland Island challenge said, “What fun; each year we get better and I can’t wait for us to have our own 9km paddle event on Wagonga Inlet which is even more beautiful than the Scotland Island paddle.

“It is really good doing it and it is sure looking good, having fun,” he said.

Narooma’s Dragon Boat club is participating in a number of competitive and social events over the coming season.  Anyone who’s interested in getting fit, testing yourself and having fun with the friendly Dragon Boat club, whether socially or competitively, email narooma.bwd@gmail.com to book a seat at the club’s Saturday morning come and try sessions.

Narooma Blue Water Dragons - “Looking good, having fun!”