Hong Kong—It’s that time of the year again when the thousands of individuals that have been training for many months come together to contest their skills, speed, fitness and endurance at the Dragon Boat Races. With 18 paddlers, a drummer and a helm in long slender boats compete over a 500 metre straight line course.
Celebrating this ancient form of sport the Dragon Boat Festival (Tueng Ng Festival) took place last Saturday June 20 with race days at several locations in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the New Territories and the surrounding islands. The main event locations were Stanley, Aberdeen, Sai Kung, Cheung Chau, Tai O, Discovery Bay and Sha Tin, and a Dragon Boat festival Parade is held in Tai O Stilt Village.
At the Sun Life Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships 2015 the competition was fierce with regular teams and newcomers taking part. Teams from the specialist dragon boat clubs, yacht and boating clubs, big businesses in the finance and insurance industries, hotel groups, real estate monoliths, construction companies, fitness centres and many more amounting to 280 teams and 6,000 paddlers. …. and up to 200,000 spectators watch proceedings.
Team members of one team taking part at Stanley, “Diesel Dragons” representing Man Diesel Engines was seen enjoying a well earned breakfast at Spiaggia restaurant on the Stanley Main Road sea front after winning their first race. Managing Director Peter Kisslinger explained that this was the first time they had entered a team. He was very pleased with the first race and was looking forward to the rest of the day. Man Diesel Engines provides engine muscle power to the big cargo vessels that haul goods around the world.
Sadly their second race was not as successful as they came up against some top teams in the Men’s B Division, but from the beaming smiles and jubilation after the race they enjoyed the encounter immensely. Ah well... more training next year!
The weather was perfect on Saturday June 20, with continuous sunshine for most of the day, however the clouds did roll in as the finals were taking place.
Additional events are taking place this week and the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, attracting thousands of competitors from all over the Globe, is from Friday July 3 until Sunday July 5 in Victoria Harbour.
Sun Life Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships 2015 Results
Men’s Division A
1. RHKYC MEN
2. KWP Pirate
3. Hong Kong Sea School Old Boys Dragon
Men’s Division B
1. DBS Old Boys - Pa Ho Dee
2. A-Dragon
3. Golden Bull A Plus Dragons
Ladies’ Division
1. AWA Globe Paddlers
2. RHKYC Women
3. French Froggies
Mixed Division
1. Chinese International School - Maroon
2. BGC Stormy Dragons - Red
3. Seagods - Red
Sun Life Academic Cup
1. CUHKSU Dragon Boat Team
2. Dragons of CUHK
3. PolyU Lisheng Hall
