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10th Annual Great White North Dragon Boat Challenge
Toronto - September 11 and 12, 2004
By Denise
translated by Priscilla
The weather was cooperating, not too hot nor too cold, great sunshine and a wonderful site. Everything was in place for great showings.
It's Saturday morning, 11:20am and Adrenaline is preparing for its first race. The challenge of the day: reach the Sunday morning A Division semi-final. The two-heats total of the day will determine whether Adrenaline will take part in that semi-final race.
Only one big opponent in this race: the Mayfair Predators, gold medallist at this festival last year. Adrenaline is in lane 4 and Mayfair in lane 2. Adrenaline places 2nd with a time of 2:06.97. After this first round of races, Adrenaline is ranked 8th. We'll have to do better in our next race.
Saturday afternoon, 3pm and Adrenaline is warming up for race #2. Matt sets the goal: Adrenaline must rank amongst the top-6 teams overall at the end of the day to be in good position for the semi-final. Adrenaline draws lane 2 and finishes with a time of 2:07.67. A slower time than in the morning, but race conditions have changed and it's still a very good result. It's therefore mission accomplished for Adrenaline since they finish 6th overall at the end of Saturday. This position gives them a good lane for tomorrow's semi-final.
It's now Sunday noon and Adrenaline is getting ready for the A Division semi-final. As expected, calibre of competition is way up there. Amongst the opponents, Mayfair is there again. The race is extremely tight and at the finish line, it's impossible to tell who the winner is. Everyone rushes to the scoreboard to look for the official results. In the end, it's Mayfair who narrowly claims victory with a time of 2:05.44, Adrenaline is second with a time of 2:05.96, results that all receive with joy since it means that we draw lane 1 for the A Final, which is a very good lane to be in.
Therefore, Adrenaline will be part of the A Final at Toronto's 10th GWN Dragon Boat Challenge. Beside them, we have SCC Sudbury Team Chiropractics, Mayfair, Scotia Beach and Hanalei, teams that Adrenaline knows well. And the moment we've all been waiting for arrives and as our dear Luc says: "It's gonna hurt". The race has now begun and it's impossible to tell where Adrenaline is placed for those who are paddling. But suddenly, a shout from Matt that says a lot: "Weeeeee're in theeeeeeeere!", which allows us to believe that anything is possible. It's already finished! Adrenaline fought a great battle. After waiting a few minutes, the final results are in: SCC Sudbury wins the gold with a time of 2:04.30, Mayfair gets the silver with 2:04.51 and Adrenaline captures the bronze with a time of 2:04.54.
Division A Championship
1- SCC Sudbury Team Chiropractic - 2:04.30
2- Mayfair Predators - 2:04.51
3- Verdun DBC "Adrenaline" - 2:04.54
4- Hanalei - 2:05.49
5- Scotia Beatch - 2:05.77
Great White North Dragon Boat Challenge
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