Dragon boat enthusiasts are savouring the sport’s biggest ever Australian championships, held on the Sunshine Coast.
Participants from 77 clubs around the country attended the six-day national regatta at Lake Kawana at Bokarina this month. The event attracted a daily average of almost 1600 people.
The Australian Dragon Boat Championships featured 370 races, including the state v state challenges, the Paradragons and inaugural Invictus veterans showcase, and club races over 200m, 500m, 1km and 2km.
The opening ceremony included a welcoming address by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleije and Mayor Rosanna Natoli. International Ice Dragon Boat Federation president and Champion Boats CEO Zhongyi Luo came from China to attend.
Norm Hunt, of KIN Dragons, Qld, received the Jon Taylor Award, which honours the legacy of Jon Taylor, a pioneer of dragon boating in Australia.
Presented annually at AusChamps, the award recognises individuals who have made an outstanding voluntary contribution to the growth and development of dragon boating, exemplifying leadership, passion and selfless service to the sport.
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Dragon Boat Queensland president Blair Gamble lauded the meet.
“We are proud to say the Sunshine Coast delivered the biggest national championships in the history of the sport.”
“With the region’s incredible facilities and the community’s enthusiastic support, the location provided a perfect backdrop for AusChamps.”
Volunteers and officials kept the event running smoothly, creating a fun and friendly atmosphere of camaraderie and sportsmanship for participants and spectators, who are now looking forward to the 2027 AusChamps in Adelaide.
