The Second  Annual Dragon Boat Race 2007

With one of the wettest starts to a summer since records began, there can't have been anyone connected with the Dragon Boat Race who wasn't watching the weather   forecasts in the run up to Race Day, and dreading what seemed likely to descend upon  us from the skies.

And while we know from last year that Dragon Boaters are keen and enthusiastic people who like nothing better than a quick paddle across the lake, it has to be said that   standing around for hours waiting for the quick paddle is more than slightly depressing when the skies are grey and the rain is falling.

But whatever agency was looking down upon us, was feeling charitable, and for most of the day we escaped the deluge which had been threatened.

The Scouts who were taking charge of the Marine activities, and the Rotarians who were coordinating the dry bits, all arrived at Waterside Lodge in good time. Gazebos went up    in short order, the marshalling areas were set out and tested. The public address  system, too, was tried and tested, and the first of the day's Country and Western songs echoed across our part of the Lake.

Along, too, came Vitalise and Queenscourt Hospice, with their sideshows and
attractions, Southport Inner Wheel Club with face painting, and no fewer than two Bouncy Castles were watched over by a team of experienced bouncy and falling-over Rotarians

Southport Insurance Brokers
 Will they mow the skirts before next year's races? Stay tuned...

Sixteen teams registered to take part in this year's event. In no particular order, these  were JJB Sports; Queenscourt Hospice; H Edmondson Car Sales; Ellerslie Court; Sandpipers; Southport Insurance Brokers; Merchant Taylors School; Mitchell and Wright; The Royal Clifton Hotel; Fletchers Solicitors; Tarleton Rugby Union Football Club; Pershing Securities; Sefton MBC; Plantec Holdings; Champion Accountants, and last,   but not least, Southport Round Table.

But as the teams started to arrive, the atmosphere became more competitive. Fifteen teams - one, unfortunately, missing on the day - assembled, took part in arcane and unusual rituals before boarding their boats and putting out their best efforts against the  clock. Each team made two runs across the Lake, and the combined total of the two was used to determine which competition the team would enter next.

The eight fastest teams were set to fight for the Cup, and the slightly more sedate teams challenged for the Plate. It has to be said that there was very little time between any of the teams, sometimes with two or three seconds separating two or three teams - the   general standard this year was significantly faster than the first Dragon Boat Race held only a year ago!

Thanks to the Scouts, and the Helmsmen - those young Dragon Boaters who will be travelling to Sydney to represent Great Britain in the World Championships in January -  the events followed each other with the precision of a well-oiled machine. Apart from the unfortunate tendency for the Dragons' heads to become detached from the rest of the beasts, we had a textbook experience. No one sank (who said 'shame?') No one  crashed, and no one fell out of the boat.

Tarleton Terriers Terrify

And during most of the day IT DIDN'T RAIN. True, there were one or two minor droplets just after lunch, but the worst that happened was a light drizzle during the last two or   three races, and by that time the white heat of competition was enough to keep most of the teams and supporters glowing, if not actually dry.

The Cup Final: Southport Round Table inching ahead of the Tarleton Terriers

But, as with all things, the end must come. And ours came, more or less on time, at just past four pm. The Winners and Runners-Up of the Plate and Cup competitions assembled in front of Waterside Lodge. The Captains of the Winning teams received  their trophies, and everyone else received their Winners and Runners-Up Medals.

The Winners of the Plate Competition, Pershing Securities, receive the trophy

The Runners-Up of the Plate Competition, JJB Sports, received individual medals

The Winners of the Cup, Southport Round Table, celebrate their victory!

The Cup Runners-Up: a magnificent performance anyway from Tarleton Terriers!

Rotary President Mike Halsall concluded the day's events by thanking everyone who had taken part, and had done so much to raise funds for their various charities, and he  wished us all a safe journey home.
____________________________________________________________________

More pictures from Dragon Boats 2007 can be found in our Photo Gallery. Click HERE