Wallaceburg Dragon Boat Races Another Success

Wallaceburg packed the riverside for the 13th annual Dragon Boat Races. Paddles hit the water as the first race took place just after 8 a.m. on Saturday June 7th. Perfect weather conditions and smooth waters made it a great day for racing, with a record high 28 teams participating.

The Dragon Boat Races have a long seeded history in Canada and especially in Wallaceburg.

Festival chair holder, Brian Armitage says this race started when he was trying to help his wife relieve the symptoms of breast cancer.

“It all started over 14 years ago when I was researching dragon boat races and found that a doctor out in Vancouver said that the upper body work of dragon boat racing helps with the recovery and the building of muscles that helps assist with the breast cancer,” says Armitage.

When the festival started in 2000 only eight teams took part in the event, now twenty-eight teams participate.

The Dragon Boat Races is the best way for Wallaceburg to utilize the main waterways that surround the town and is an even better way to get the entire family involved in outdoor activities.

All the money raised during the event is dispersed into several Wallaceburg charities including Breast Buddies, United Way and the Wallaceburg fireworks comity.

Below are the results from Saturday’s Dragon Boat Races:

A Division

1. Mitchell’s Bay Variety Super Strokers under-18
2. Stone Pirates
3. Hope Floats

B Division

1. Wonder Broads
2. CBD/No Fills
3. Raspburg Autobody

C Division

1. Long and Hard
2. Inclusion Rules (Community Living Wallaceburg)
3. Fairfield Park Angels

D Division

1. Breast Buddies
2. Minacs Drag’n Blades
3. Lifesavers