Clair and Alan win in Prague at the European Dragonboat Championships 2006

Clair and Alan Parfrey - two of Pailton’s residents celebrate success of winning medals with the Great Britain team at the recent European Dragonboat championships. The competition took place in Prague on 1st- 3rd September and was well attended with crews from most European countries.

GB Team selection consisted of attendance at GB training sessions and Time Trials to identify the fastest paddlers in the country.

There are 20 paddlers in a dragonboat, a helm and drummer. All play a vital part in the teams success. There are several classes of international competition:

Junior Open team – Under 18’s male or female paddlers
Junior Ladies team – Under 18’s female paddlers
Junior mixed team – Under 18’s male and female paddlers
Premiere Open team – open to male or female paddlers
Premiere Ladies team – female paddlers - recent world champions at 500m
Premiere Mixed team – open to male and female paddlers
Senior Open Team – over 40’s - male or female paddlers
Senior Ladies Team – over 40’s - female paddlers
Senior Mixed Team – over 40’s - male and female paddlers

Clair and Alan, who have years of experience paddling their super-rafts, were encouraged to take up the sport of Dragonboating just 12 months ago. Despite being new to the sport, and knowing that they would be up against well established dragonboaters, they set their sights on getting into the GB team.

Months of training followed, on the water and in the gym. Initially the water sessions were particularly uncomfortable, as they found themselves clearing a path through the ice covered canal. The training would pay off later on.

Alan was a member of the Senior Open Team which, despite strong opposition, won Silver medals in all 3 events – the 2000m the 200m and the 500m, whilst Clair was a member of the Senior Ladies team and triumphed in 200m and the 500m races winning 2 Golds.

This was the most successful championships ever for a GB squad, with every crew bringing home at least one Silver medal. The total haul of medals was 6 Gold and 7 Silver.

Now the pair are setting their sights on the World Championships, next September at Penrith, the Olympic regatta rowing course in Australia, the site of Steve Redgrave’s historical 5th Gold medal.

Clair and Alan win in Prague at the European Dragonboat Championships 2006

Clair and Alan Parfrey - two of Pailton’s residents celebrate success of winning medals with the Great Britain team at the recent European Dragonboat championships. The competition took place in Prague on 1st- 3rd September and was well attended with crews from most European countries.

Months of training followed, on the water and in the gym. Initially the water sessions were particularly uncomfortable, as they found themselves clearing a path through the ice covered canal. The training would pay off later on.

Now the pair are setting their sights on the World Championships, next September at Penrith, the Olympic regatta rowing course in Australia, the site of Steve Redgrave’s historical 5th Gold medal.

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