The Boobops Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Team have capped off an amazing season winning their third consecutive National title win at the New Zealand Dragon Boat Association National Championships held at the Blue Lakes Rotorua on Saturday 6th April. The Boobops won gold in the 500 meter premium race bronze in the 200 meter sprint after being impeded from a collison recovered to get bronze the Gold was won by Pink Dragons which was fantastic the team were are very happy for Pink Dragon along time coming. With the 2 kilometer event the results were given out at prize given which Boobops won Gold in posting two personal best times for the 500 and 2000meters. The team also picked up the Breast Cancer Cup and the Rountree Shield again as part of the 500 meter win.
The team have had a string of impressive wins over the past three weeks with gold medal win at the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival 16 March. A hat trick winning 3 gold medals in the 200, 500, 2000 meter events plus the BC cup at the Regional competition at Lake Pupuke Auckland 23 March. The Team have worked extremely hard over the past four months training twice weekly at Sulphur Point Tauranga habour. The season started in Oct 2012 with the team also winning the Tauranga & Hamilton Super 12 Breast Cancer finals. The team have had there fair share of setbacks with injured paddlers prior to the major events but managed to get through to the Nationals with just 20 paddlers no spares.
The team have been on fire this year even bettering there own club's Open Womans "Bay Dragon" non BC Team times at the Nationals an amazing effort and this just goes to show how perpared and focused the team have been. The Clubs Open women’s team “Bay Dragons” also won bronze medal in the Open Women’s division 2k race at the Nationals. Even after Breast Cancer you can still regain your life become very active and competitive even to a National level and make life long friends who have been through the same journey.
Boobops Coach Matt Cuthbert is very proud of the teams effort and is amazed at the dedication commitment passion and drive the team have built up this year. Boobops Coach was also being recognised as a Finalist at the Sport Bay of Plenty Coach of the Year Awards held at the Rotorua Events Centre November
2012 up against some very high profile finalists Gordon Tietjens, Noliene Tairua and Todd Blyth.
The team will take a small break over winter before starting some winter paddling. 2014 will be a huge year for the team as they compete at all the local regattas plus Auckland Regionals the Nationals in Ashburton and the IBCPC international Breast Paddlers Commission World Champs in Sarasota Florida in October 2014.
The team are looking for a major sponsor, or sponsor and will be busy fundraising for next year. If your are BC and would like to try Dragon Boating in the Bay of Plenty contact
Judith Butler (Team Captain)
07 5736388
07 5736388
