For the first time ever, Aoraki Dragons brings you the South Island Regional Dragon Boat Championships at Lake Ruataniwha, in Twizel. See our News article and  the reports in the "Twizel Update"

We have been planning to run this event in the Lakes District for many years, so that it now mirrors the other major rowing lake that we are now visiting regularly - Lake Karapiro for the NZDBA National Champs.

Here are some details:

Aoraki Board will be taking two trailers of our finest "Champion" Standard Boats to Lake Ruataniwha. Some are already loaded onto a trailer at Owles Terrace, and we will load more boats in the week before (including all 3 from Lake Rua, two from Kaiapoi and an ABOL boat from Owles Tce), starting Tuesday 18th. 

Our rented truck will head to Twizel on Wednesday 19-March, along with the first trailer of boats, and the Chase Boat will be towed down the same day. Aoraki board will be assembling and testing a new concept in Start Pontoons on the lake to give us 5 lanes of racing, and about 34 races over the day. If this structure proves too difficult or unstable, we will revert to using line-of-sight floating starts, with the option of reformatting to 4 lanes of racing (which means about 40 races).

Competing teams can travel down at their leisure, and will be able to set up their tents/ Marquees on site the night before, from 4pm Friday 21-March.

The South Island Champs will be officially opened at 07:20 on Saturday 22-March, with a Sweeps and Managers Meeting at 07:30.

Loading for the first race will be at 07:45, with the 2,000m Turns Races due to start at 8 am. See below for the Race Draw.

After the Turns Races, we go into the 500m Straight Line races, which will be followed by a Prize Giving at the lake's edge for 500m races.

While that is happening, we will reposition the Start Pontoons for the 200m Sprints. This will double as a Lunch Break.

Last race is expected to be around 4:30 to 5pm.

Then teams can take a quick shower before heading to the "Top Hut" (17 Tasman Rd, Twizel) for the main Prize Giving and the After Party, from about 5:30pm. You are welcome to order drinks and food at the Top Hut. We will be aiming for prize giving to start at 7pm.

Team entries are closed (midnight of Monday 10 March/Tuesday 11 March) and we have the following teams. The draft Draw will be sent out approx Thursday 13th March:

Small Boat, Mixed:

1. Southern Gold
2. Sampan Warriors
3. Ridge Riders
4. Marlborough Dragons
5. Beca
   (Ignite Dragons withdrew)

Small Boat, Women:

1. Zonta Dragons
2. Simply the Breast
3. Rainbow Warriors
4. POI Green
   

Standard Boat, Mixed:

1. Waimak Attack
2. Southern Premier
3. Paddlateers
4. Northern Phoenix
   

Standard Boat, Women:

1. Waimak Vibes Wahine
2. Pegasus Dragons
3. OPC Kakariki (Otautahi PC)
4. Mana Wahine (Tu Meke Dragons Sports Club)
5. Otepoti Dragons
6. Amazon Hearts (Paddle for Life Club)
7. Abreast of Life (Paddle for Life Club)
   

Meanwhile, we are creating a buzz in Twizel: