jrdragonboat.ca

Jr Dragon Boat Challenge
            
     

 West Rouge Canoe Club and Sir Oliver Mowat's

2010 Jr. Dragonboat Challenge Program The West Rouge Canoe Club’s 8th annual competition enables young people, ages 8 to 15 to paddle in a team boat called a Dragonboat against other community teams in a fun and enthusiastic environment.  The boat consists of a 41 foot, open racing canoe, propelled by 20 paddlers and is steered by a standing coxswain.  The program fosters teamwork, individual confidence, and social development.  Instructed by national ranked athletes and coaches, the paddlers will gain an understanding of the fundamental movements of our sport as well as water safety requirements.  All equipment, including boats, paddles, and Personal Floatation Devices (P.F.D.’s) will be supplied.  All programs follow OPHEA regulations.                

The fee per participant will include equipment rental fees, training and coaching, 4 instruction/practice sessions, race fees, and a B.B.Q. lunch at the regatta.  In addition, 2 participants from each team will be awarded a scholarship for a free week at our summer camp. Participants are also invited to bring their family members down to watch the races and take part in our Family Day activities, including use of our kayaks and canoes, fun races, volleyball tournament and free 1 hour babysitting by our summer staff. 

If your organization is interested in being a part of the 7th Annual Jr. Dragonboat Challenge Program please do not hesitate to contact me via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  .   

The Club also has programs open to anyone ages 6 to 80 who is interested in fun and fitness.  We look forward to any involvement you have with the West Rouge Canoe Club this season.  For more information on our Club programs please visit our website at www.westrougecc.org.    

Sincerely,

                                       Aron Nash

                                       Junior Challenge Coordinator, West Rouge Canoe Club 

 

 

 Jr Dragon Boat Challenge 2009 in Review!

It was a beautiful Sunday of Frenchman’s Bay in Pickering Ontario where early in the morning over 70 volunteer coaches and officials gathered and helped put the finishing touches on the site before the athletes arrive. Rounding 8:30 am the road leading to the West Rouge Canoe Club filled with over 250 Jr. Athletes (ages 8-14) and their parents to make for a spectacular sight. As they filled the viewing area to see the amazing course set up by the co-coordinators of the program Aron Nash, Darren Mossman, and Katie McCarty. The teams then received their event jerseys that had their own team name on it, and they gathered on the beach for the welcoming to the 7th annual Jr. Dragon Boat Challenge.

                     

The day began with the first races at 9:15 am and what a set of races they were huge battles amongst the teams led to an exciting morning of races. During the racing athletes were able to enjoy some free time relaxing on the beach, getting a snack, drinks or even a meal at our canteen or even having a great time in the water with our beginner kayaks with instruction from our amazing camp staff. As lunch time rolled around everyone had a few minutes to relax from an amazing morning full of close races and fun in the sun. After the lunch break the final numbers were in and the Finals BEGAN we started off with the D Finals which was a very close race, then came the C Finals which was a super close race between Military Trail and GB Lyttle. Finally came the B Final which meant even closer finishes between Rouge Valley, the Cadets and Joseph Howe, and lastly the Grand A Final between Globo Dragons, Rouge Valley and Joseph Howe. What a close race it was but Globo Dragons had the better fight and came out on top as the Jr. Challenge Champions and Rouge Valley came out as the Elementary school Champions. The awards ceremony was amazing as all the participants walked away with recognition of their accomplishments and the two champions walked away with their trophies which were displayed in their school. It was an amazing day with terrific weather and racing, we couldn’t have asked for anything better and we hope that it cooperates with us again next year for our challenge in 2010 that we hope to have even more participants and a bigger Challenge.

                          

Thank you to all the volunteers and coaches and teachers from all the schools and organizations for making this day possible, without your amazing help and contributions this would not have been possible. I hope to see you all again next year in 2010 for our exciting challenge which we expect to be bigger and better!

 

I have also posted a few pictures below and a link to more pictures from the challenge. You may also follow us on FACEBOOK!