How to Tame A Dragon in 5 Easy Steps

July 14, 2010 at 2:23 pm, Category: Uncategorized, by admin

Now you may or may not have heard that we here at NuBlue are not only Champion web geeks (with awards to prove it) but also Champion athletes (with the bruises and trophies to prove it!). That’s right! Any visions you may have of us folk slumped in our swivel chairs all day with square eyes straining at computer screens and a mountain of empty cappuccino cups cluttering up our desks would be completely (well…partially) quashed if you came into our office and saw the bulging muscles and steely, determined faces of our team (N.B I in no way accept any responsibility for this statement). Don’t believe me? See Michael Ashworth’s blog this year’s ‘It’s a Knockout’ and then read on…

Because on the 6^th June 2010 the NuBlue Dragons by Cruise Connections (aka: Rob Ellis, David Duke, Paul Grant, Jane Dodson, Adam Bardsley, Matt Hutchinson, Alisdair Denholm, Lenny St Clair Matt Canty, Joe Bourne, Tom Ashworth, Tom O’Beirne) were crowned Champions of the Lunesdale Rotary, Charity Dragon Boat Race 2010!

It was tough, it was epic and my word was it surprising but we did it and we did it good. After coming fourth last year, the team (plus a few new faces, mine included) rocked up to the Halton Training Camp with a hearty dose of determination to tame those dragons once and for all. We also had another investment in the race as we had just finished redesigning the Lunesdale Rotary website, which you can see here http://lunesdalerotary.org.uk/ .

For any readers who do not know what dragon boat racing is, well, it’s pretty much what it says it says on the tin. Long boats shaped like dragons + the River Lune in Lancaster + about 17 teams of 8-10 people (one oar each and one drummer to keep the pace) + two teams racing at a time (best timed results go through to the next round) +one dragon shaped trophy. And because we are a generous bunch here at NuBlue, I have devised a simple 5 step plan of how you too can be a champion dragon boat tamer. Not because I want you to claim our crown, but just because I’m nice like that (no really, I am, I like cats and stuff).

HOW TO TAME A DRAGON IN 5 EASY STEPS

1. TIMING!

OOOOONE – TWWWWWOOOOOOOO – THHHHREEEEEEE – ONE – TWO – ONE –TWO etc

This is the timing of a dragon boat champion team. Three massive thrusts of your oar leaning fully forwards so that the oar practically scratches the river bed and then sharp, strong strokes powered from the back and shoulders that cut through the water like an ipad flying out of Currys.

A drummer to keep you in time is a must here. Our drummer, Tom O’Beirne, did a cracking job of ensuring that we maintained the power and force throughout each race. See the video of our final race for proof – we look like actual beasts!!! And a word for any women out there, be warned that you may find yourself shouting and grimacing like a man throughout each race. I think I may have scared poor David Duke sat next to me (and anyone within a 5 mile radius) by shouting ‘ONE! TWO! ONE! TWO!’ in a gravely Vin Diesel style voice. I’m not sure whether this was due to the fact that I was the only girl on the team and therefore absorbed a lot of the testosterone that was flying about, or whether it was a secret hulk-like alter ego that has been lying dormant within me all these years! Either way, it worked and the whole team ploughed through the water in each race in beautiful, perfect synchrony.

2. MIX IT UP!

We were called the NuBlue Dragons but were actually a mix of NuBlue employees and friends from Lancaster University Volunteering Unit. Some of the team hadn’t even met before the day. However, rather than being a hindrance, I believe this mix up added surprise and a spark to the team as we had no chance but to bond and bond fast! Furthermore, we used substitute Matt Canty to mix it up again and keep this spark burning from the semi finals onwards. David Duke gallantly offered his space in the boat to Matt who was straining like a dog at the leash to get in the water and for this, we salute you Dave Motto here: keep ‘em fresh, keep ‘em clean.

3. LUCKY CHARMS

We may have got funny looks from the opposing teams and we may have felt a bit daft, but I genuinely believethat the funny little things that we did before each race, bonded us a team and gave us a unique lucky boost.

There was a lucky penny that we all kissed, the cry of ‘OARS UP, IF YOU STILL BELIEVE!’, the chant of ‘Feel the Rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on down, it’s Dragon Boat time’ (pinched from ‘Cool Runnings’ of course) and my favourite, the ritual tapping and chanting….seriously!

Team member Lenny St. Clair had a lovely friend who got all the team together and lead us in an exercise of tapping various pressure points around our bodies, whilst saying inspirational and determined assertions of how we were going to win. We tapped our foreheads, our armpits, are chins and our chests. Sounds a bit kooky, looked a bit odd, but heck, it worked!!

4. CALL FOR SUPPORT!

Get yourself some great supporters. This is a must. We were very lucky to have a lovely team of supporters who braved the persistent drizzle to cheer us on throughout each race. We also had a lot of support from people who sponsored us, raising £595 for Cancer Care! This undoubtedly fuelled the team onto victory and is the cherry on our crown shaped cake.  So thank you for everyone that sponsored us, money well spent indeed.

5. FOCUS!

The final race was a test of absolute concentration, determination and focus. I could see the opposing team to the right of me out of the corner of my  eye, but focused forwards on the finishing line (well on the back of the person in front’s life jacket) for the duration of the 64 second race.

The Final Race – NuBlue @ Dragon Boat Charity Racing 2010

If you watch the video above, you will see Tom Ashworth on the back right in a trance of pure determination – head down and arms ploughing like a man possessed!

As we crossed the finish line it was too close to call who had won. Supporters from both teams were celebrating, so all

we could do was maintain this focus and team spirit as we eagerly awaited the results……and when we were announced as winners we exploded with pride and excitement! Arms flinging everywhere, boys screaming like girls, girl screaming like boys, one team member even ran and jumped into the river! It was a truly epic moment. After claiming our trophies (plural!) and medals we gladly accepted the offer of beers from our opponents before heading home as CHAMPIONS! Albeit rather soggy and tired ones in need of a cup of tea.

So there you go! How to be a Dragon Boat Champion in 5 easy steps.  Fancy having a go? We’ll meet you on the starting line next year – not letting this trophy go without a fight! And with two victories under our belt already in 2010, is Nublue on for a hat trick? My money is on the XFactor. Christmas Number One. Watch this space. *starts tapping forehead*