Dragon Boating in Haliburton County
Date and time: August 31, 2017, 6:00 pm
Location: Fish Hatchery, 6712 Gelert Road
Cost: $15.00 cash payment at the door
Bring: – Place setting – plate/cutlery
– a friend
Come and express your appreciation to our wonderful coaches for
their many hours of volunteer time to our club.
Where would we be without them?
By Joan Ransberry
Lisa Werry and fellow paddlers “left it all on the lake” at the Port Perry Dragon Boat Festival Saturday, June 17.
Once again, the Haliburton Highlands Paddlers came home with hardware, placing second in the Mixed Division “D” to win a Silver medal.
The Port Perry festival was especially exciting for the 38 participating teams. In keeping with the commands of dragon boating, all eyes were in the boat. However, when boarding the boat at the beginning of each race, competitors looked up to the sky: The storm clouds loomed all day. The weather gods sure teased: the sky opened just as the awards ceremony got underway.
The Haliburton Highlands Paddlers didn’t mind getting drenched. “We waited in the downpour for coach Scotty Boyd and race captain Ginny Carmichael to hand out our hard-earned medals,” said Joannie Ransberry.
An especially proud competitor, Lisa Werry had one concern at the end of the third and final race.
“I wasn’t sure if I had enough energy left to get out of the boat,” said Lisa.
Team coach Scotty Boyd was very pleased with the results of the day. “The team did a fantastic job, especially in the last race,” Scotty said. “We had four first-time paddlers. They did a great job.”
First-time paddler Julia Donnelly came away from the race very impressed: “Everything was wonderful,” said Julia. “I had a great time.”
The Haliburton Highlands Paddlers appreciated the efforts of steerspersons Lois Deacon and Lillian Hall and, of course, drummer Jane Boyd.
“It was a very precarious race” said Jane. “I’m just glad my team didn’t dump me in the lake.” Once again, Edna Jamieson gave it her all. “There was lots of spirit from the paddlers, from the coaches and from the volunteers. It has been an amazing day,” Edna said.
The Haliburton team’s focus is now on the next festival to be held in Barrie on Aug. 26.
With a few more paddlers needed for this all-women’s race, a call has gone out to “fill the boat.”
Haliburton Highlands Paddlers chairperson Elli Armstrong is excited to enter the Haliburton team in the Barrie festival. “Last year we walked away with the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award. The Barrie festival is a wonderful venue and promises to be a great day. Let’s fill the boat!”
Dragon boating opened a whole new world for me when I began in 2013. It has included the joy of seeing baby loons, the rising mist, camaraderie, endorphins, laughter and physical exercise. Who knew it could get even better for me when Donna Enright began paddling in 2015.
I had no idea then that the paddling together, and getting to know each other at festivals would lead to a deep friendship and eventually a romantic relationship.
When we decided to get married, a couple of paddlers suggested that we consider arriving at the ceremony by dragon boat. The Club agreed and my friend since high school, Lois Deacon, agreed to coach and steer the crew. We are so very grateful to the Club, crew, fellow paddlers and the community for their support and sharing in our special wedding day.
We were feted with a champagne toast before our send-off on Susana Foo, who has never looked better with her refinishing, lots of fresh layers of varnish and sporting a beautiful dragon head and tail for the boat! What an honour! We were given a tremendous gift from the crew – a signed dragon boat paddle and a beautiful beginning to what we hope will be a long and happy married life together.
We appreciated the sunshine, the excitement, the enthusiasm of our paddling team as they ably paddled us to the town docks, after taking several passes past the band shell in Head Lake Park.
After the ceremony, we were delighted to make our transition into married life with a walk through a paddle arch formed by the crew.
The day was perfect for us with the foundation of a magical dragon boat limo ride, surrounded by friends and cheered on by those on shore.
Donna and I give our heart-felt thanks to the Club, crew, fellow paddlers, coaches, club organizers and leaders and to Lois for helping make this a fantastic launch to our married life together!
Marg Cox
By Joannie Ransberry
Our team is, indeed, pumped for Saturday’s race in Port Perry.
When we hear “Paddles Up”, we’ll be ready. We’ll give it our all.
Thanks to coaches Scotty and Lois and drummer Jane, we will race with great gusto.
Because we are who we are, our dragon boat team will keep it together and, like always, we’ll have a load of fun.
Personally, I would like to thank the coaches, the race coordinators and the club executive for all that they do.
While I’m not the best paddler in the boat, I’m okay. It’s okay to be okay.
One thing is absolute: it is a privilege to be a member of the Haliburton Highland Paddlers.
Headless since the inauguration of Haliburton Highlands Paddlers, our beloved ‘FOO’ now has a head AND a tail, which, although they may not be used regularly, are certainly available for ‘Special’ occasions. It appeared publicly on Head Lake on Sat 11th for such an occasion. Stay tuned for further details on the ‘fancy’ FOO, the occasion and lots of photos!
If you have photos (or stories) of Saturday, pls forward to admin@haliburtonhighlandspaddlers.ca for possible inclusion.
The Morning Paddle was ‘slightly damp’ as described by Joannie Ransbury: “It was a dark and stormy morning– I just got out of the dragon boat, which was half full and the collective attitude was right on. We returned from Haliburton’s Head Lake laughing and very wet. I’ve got two days to dry off… it’ll be “paddles up” again on Wednesday”. (Ed. Now THAT’S the spirit!).
The evening paddle, on the other hand was in perfect conditions, sun and only a slight breeze, attended by approx. 17 Paddlers (3 new) plus coach Scotty Boyd. The Foo was resplendent in her new makeover – thanks to those who put in the many hours to scrape, sand, paint and varnish her over the past weeks! Tonight’s paddle was a leisurely ‘warm up’ one, according to Coach Boyd, however with the Port Perry Dragon Boat Festival coming up on June 17th, we can expect the upcoming practices to increase somewhat in intensity!
