|
ˇ@ˇ@ˇ@ˇ@ˇ@ˇ@Previous
news More about
GDBA (Home)
5 July 2005
GDBA update
I take liberty to send this Newsletter to update you on what's
happening at Gauteng Dragon Boat Association. Should you feel
that you are not ready for this colourful, team-building,
festive-style cultural sport, please accept my apologies and
feel free to reply with the word 'remove' typed in the subject
column, and please do it quick as you are destined to be
bombarded with event updates as regattas draw closer :-)
Background
South Africa's dragon boat community in Gauteng Province held
its first regatta on Bruma Lake, Johannesburg in 1999, the
event attracted hundreds of athletes in and around the
province to celebrate the cultural diversity and the
challenging spirit driven by the sport. This followed the
introduction of dragon boat racing in Cape Town as early as
1992!
More and more groups joined the sport, Gauteng Dragon Boat
Association (GDBA) was founded in year 2000 to cater for all
who wish to develop social blending, teamwork, group bond,
mutual trust and increased camaraderie among colleagues and
partners. Over the years, our kids have also learned about
commitment, adoption of a constructive and optimistic
lifestyle, positive striving spirit and to accomplish higher
achievement in life.
Dragon boat racing is such an unique sport that it has
repeatedly demonstrated its charm in tourists attraction
worldwide and brought many cities to life!
Congratulations
On behalf of the South African dragon boat community, may I
extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Martin Poole,
Gauteng Dragon Boat Association (GDBA) Selection Subcomm Head
and Miss Carol Purnell, GDBA's Constitution Officer. The
couple will be happily married on 9 August 2005 in a
family-circle ceromony in Cape Town and thereafter disappear
to, wherever, for a month-long honeymoon! So there you go,
GDBA definitely has a role to play! :-)
City of Johannesburg Heritage Festival Dragon Boat Regatta
The one-day event will take place on Sunday 25 September 2005
at Wemmer Pan Lake, Region 9 of City of Johannesburg (South)
with Florida Lake (West Rand) reserved as the backup venue.
The following competition classes are open with a minimal
entry fee for medals:
1. Premier Open (R1,200 per team)
2. Women's Open (R1,200)
3. Mixed Open (R1,200) - if your mixed crew is a combination
of your Premier and Women's crews you only pay once
4. Junior Boys (R800) - 15 years old and up
5. Junior Girls (R800)
6. Junior Mixed (R800) - combined crews only pay once
7. Under 15 (R800)
8. Physically-challenged Class (free)
9. Corporate Challenge (R3,000) - Guaranteed a minimum of two
races; allowed to display up to 5 company banners and giving
out flyers.
10. Chinese Community Race
11. City of Johannesburg Regional Challenge (mixed) (R1,200)
12. Provincial Challenge (free)
More details will follow in our next correspondence.
Interested parties should make provinsional booking with GDBA
Secretary Ms Beulah Cloete at bcloete@wol.co.za or cell:
082-488 4074.
GDBA Provinciel Selection Sub Committee
As from the day of our next event, the City of Johannesburg
Heritage Festival Dragon Boat Regatte, Miss Leanne Cloete
(Florida Club), SADBA Youth and Development Officer will take
over as Head of Selection Subcomm for provincial colours;
Leanne task is now double-barreled as she has also been
elected as Head Coach for the province in our July Exco
meeting on 19 June 2005.
Leanne will soon send out selection criteria and I encourage
everyone with an ambition to paddle for the province to
respond to the call by e-mail application. Applicant please
take note of the following:
ˇEThe provincial colours will be awarded to successful
candidates on a regatta-to-regatta basis to avoid vacancies.
ˇETraining sessions will be fixed for members to pre-plan their
activities.
ˇEAttendance merit will account for members' eventual
appearance in a provincial race.
ˇEProvincial members will enjoy preferencial status in the
selection for Taipei International Dragon Boat Championships.
Taipei International Dragon Boat Championships 2006
Doors are open for anyone wishing to take part in this event
in June 2006 in Taipei, Taiwan. Please be prepared to be away
from work for approximately 10 days, the cost is in the region
of R9,000/pax including airfair, accommodation, meals and
water but excluding spending money, medical cost and extra
food/water which might become necessary in the warm summer in
the Far East.
Enquiry may be directed to gdba@wol.co.za.
More updates to follow.
ˇ@
|
|
LATEST
RACE RESULTS
(Flag-catching competition) |
|
2005 South Africa
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival |
 |
|
Premier Open:
(1) Florida; (2) I & J; (3) Golden City
Premier Mixed:
(1) Florida; (2) I & J; (3) Chung Wah
Junior Boys:
(1) DSK German School; (2) Manzi; (3) Allen Glen
Junior Mixed:
(1) Zeekoe; (2) DSK German
School; (3) CJB School
Corporate Challenge:
(1) China Express Newspaper; (2) Africa Trade
Centre; (3) Rectron Electronics
Chinese Community:
(1) Hwa-hsin School; (2) Shun-de Association;
(3) Chung Wah
Physically-challenged:
(1) Pumla; (2) Takalani
Joˇ¦burg Regions:
(1) Region 4; (2) Region 6; (3) Region 11
Provincial Challenge:
(1)
Gauteng; (2) Western Cape; (3) Free State |
|
WHAT IS DRAGON BOAT RACING? |
 |
|
A dragon boat dashes
forward |
|
Dragon boats are slim, traditionally
teakwood (often now fiberglass) racers with
a hand-painted dragon's head at the prow and
a flashy tail at the stern.
Decorated in brilliant Chinese colors, each boat holds
a crew of 18 sitting side by side, a
steersperson at the rudder, a drummer whose
beat sets the pace for the crew and a
flag-catcher at the head of the boat. Dragon
boat racing is unique for the speed of fast
paddling.
Dragon boat racing originated from China
some 2 300 years ago as a traditional
ceremonial sport; today, it is being raced
worldwide to test sportspersons' physical
strength, challenging spirit and group bond. |
|
|
|
|
