Dragon boats ‘invade’ Waterford

Chris Abbott

Editor

How close were the championship dragon boat races at the 2025 Invasion of the Dragons?

After the Cure edged Rock Ness Monsters by just 0.2 seconds to win the Community D Division final, June 22 in Waterford. After paddling hard for 250 metres, third-place Drag-On 123 finished only a half-second behind the winners.

But that was not the closest race of the day.

Meditate to Dominate raced across the Shadow Lake finish line 0.04 seconds ahead of Norfolk Knockouts to win the Community C Division championship. Third-place Vein Vikings just 0.7 seconds back.

But even that was not the closest championship race of the day.

Knotical Disaster flashed across the finish line 0.03 seconds ahead of Norfolk OPP Detachment’s Out on Bail to win the Community A Division with the fastest championship time of the day.

“It’s all electronic, which is terrific,” smiled co-organizer Gail Catherwood. “Otherwise it’d be a nightmare.”

“We didn’t know (the winner) until they announced it,” said Becca Belch, captain of D second-place Rock Ness Monsters, a women’s team from the Simcoe Curling Club. “It was very close.”

Rock Ness also placed second in their first two races of the day.

“The first year, one of the ladies we curl with, her husband is part of the Rotary Club and brought us on, and we’ve been in it ever since. Everyone loves it! We start talking about it back in February.”

Teamwork is vital in dragon boat racing, she said.

“You need people that work together, understand each other. You can’t be selfish in this – if you’re paddling too hard, nobody can keep up with you.

“We love hanging out together, it’s relaxing and fun. It’s all about having a good time. And we’re all competitive, so we love the competitive nature of it all. This is a summer reason for us all to get together and we’re already talking about it for next year.”

The annual Invasion of the Dragons, a dragon boat fundraising festival, was organized by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise. Proceeds support the Cancer Support & Resource Program of Norfolk, which gives financial support to people going through cancer, and local Rotary community projects, which includes Lighthouse Theatre and Special Olympics support.

Dolly’s Sandwiches, Kaley’s on the Go, and Abel Enterprises provided food and beverages.

“A perfect day,” said co-organizer Gail Catherwood. “We do all the work to get it put together, then Alkame (Alkame Dragon Boat Services) comes in and does the racing, which is great because we can kind of sit back and enjoy the experience.

“We had some new teams… and we have two or three teams that have been here every year for 10 years, so that’s terrific. Lots of great volunteers this year, too. We really went out to make sure it wasn’t just Rotary and Cancer Support, so that’s added to the day.”

Alkame supplied the dragon boats, gear and support staff. Teams of 20 (and a drummer) paddle out to the starting line, then race back 250 metres to the finish line.

Drag-On 123, a team from Waterford Legion Branch 123, finished second in a very close morning preliminary race and second in their semifinal, earning a spot in the D Community Division final later that afternoon where they placed third.

“We were right in there,” said Legion 123 member Kelly Henry, noting the local Legion has competed every year, winning their divisions the last two previous years.

“The majority of this team is back for at least their second year – and we can see that in their comfort level. Each year, Saturday is your practice day, and the instructor gives you some great tips and techniques, and that really helps to make people feel more comfortable.”

It’s not about the strength of a team, she said. It’s about the unison and working together in the boat.

“There’s no feeling like the moment you realize you’re all in sync,” nodded Legion 123 member Sean McNamara. “You think you’re gliding so fast – it’s amazing. I remember doing this last year and enjoying it so much, I wanted to join a local club. It would be nice to have one here.”

“This is a great group of people,” Kelly added. “We’re not here for the ‘big win,’ we’re here for a day together. A day to enjoy each other’s company, and it’s all going to a good cause. We support everybody, we cheer for everybody coming across that line.

“We do it to support our community, because that’s what Legions do, and the camaraderie,” she said, hoping more Legions join the racing next year. “We’ve got a great group of volunteers. We get together and this is another way we can represent the Legion. And we have had cancer survivors on our team, so it’s another way to support them as well.

“This festival also brings so many people out to enjoy Waterford and what it has to offer,” Kelly concluded.

Organizers, teams and spectators can already mark their calendars for the 2026 ‘Invasion of the Dragons’ on Sunday, June 21, 2026.

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Twenty-four teams competed on June 22 – dragon boats with local connections included Drag’ins Across the Pond, a Waterford community team; Meditate to Dominate, Sayza Hot Yoga Simcoe; Ship of Jewels, a cancer survivor team sponsored by Ryerse Garden Gallery, Simcoe; The Heat, a team of teachers from Lynndale Height Public School, Simcoe; Out on Bail, Norfolk OPP