Coaches Appreciation Night – Aug. 31, 2017
Without an experienced, qualified coach a Dragon Boat cannot venture out on the water. We at HHP are lucky we have three very experienced and enthusiastic volunteer coaches who have been “at the helm” for some time now!
They are Janine Papadopoulos, the coach who ‘got us off the ground and onto the water’ when the club was formed back in 2014; Scotty Boyd, an ‘old sailor’, well acquainted with still water and the pounding seas; Lois Deacon, who just joined as a coach this year and has a long history of dragon boating in various roles. She coached our Barrie team to its success this past August.
Also to be mentioned is our ‘fledgling’ coach Marg Cox who filled in for a few outings this year, her first as a qualified coach. Well done Marg, the paddlers look forward to going out with you next season again, ….. and not only for the jokes!
Chairperson Elli started the evening off with welcoming the large turnout of paddlers and introducing the Management Committee, in addition to expressing members’ appreciation to our wonderful coaches.
Coaches Scotty and Lois reported on our two Festivals, this season Port Perry & Barrie, and our efforts which were rewarded with some success.
Of course, even thinking about dragon boating works up an appetite and we were well served, again by a coach – Janine, whose “Into the Blue Bakery” with its mobile wood fired pizza oven turned out a selection of great pizzas and tossed salad (& a vegan one too!) until we could eat no more! Followed by the celebratory iced cake with a (partially) edible dragon boat & paddles decorating the top of it.
When all was consumed, we had a wonderful presentation by Mgmt. Committee member Chris Whittemore (aided by Carolyn & Pamela), of their trip to New Zealand this year to compete as members of IB Dragonboating in the 2017 World Masters Games. We were envious!
To wrap up the evening, Elli thanked by name all the many volunteers who have made our club the success it has become in only 4 years, and made a few announcements about possible winter paddling in “the tank”, plus coaching and steering courses, not to mention how to contribute to the club next season!
Soooo, you can put away your paddles now, but not too far, it’s only 5 months to our “Open House 2018”!!
And remember,
PADDLES UP!