Residents and visitors to Cagayan de Oro will be treated to another spectacle when the 2nd Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race gets going on January 25-26, 2020 at the Cagayan River along Barangay Kauswagan.
“Dragon Boat Kagay-an operates on a skeletal force to minimize high overhead costs,” said Dragon Boat Kagay-an President and Race Organizer John W. Asuncion. “We would like to ask everyone’s cooperation by sending the accomplished registration forms as early as possible.”
The spectacle gets going on Friday, January 24 with the Water Test and Team Manager’s Meeting at New Dawn Hotel Plus at 5PM.
The race proper will feature 200 meter short boat races on Saturday, January 25 and 500 meter short boat races on Sunday, January 26. Some 22 teams of approximately 350 paddlers and crew have signed up so far to join the races.
There will be 3 categories for the 200-meter races (Short Boat Open, Short Boat Open U24 and Short Boat Mixed U24) and two in the 500 meter races (Short Boat Open U24 and Short Boat Mixed U24).
Eight teams have already signed up for the Corporate Category include the following: River Star Aggregates; Oroport Cargo Handling Services Inc.; Chinese Community of Cagayan de Oro; Cagayan de Oro Volunteer Fire Brigade; Cocorica-Pizzarella Lancers; San Miguel Beer Dragons; Sutherland-Dragon Warriors Davao; and AISAT (Asian International School Aeronautics and Technology) – Hiraya Minokawa Dabaw.
Four teams will be competing so far in the Government Service Category: Fire Breathers (BFP, PNP, AFP, PNA); Cantilan Red Dragons – LGU; Rainbow Dragons of the Office of Cong. Klarex Uy; and Haguroz Dragon Boat Team (Tagbilaran Bohol LGU).
However, competition is expected to be stiffest in the Under-24 (U24) category where ten team have already signed up to join: Cantilan Red Dragons; Banawa Paddlers (formerly KTD); Liceo Dragonoids; Rapid Riders; CGY Oro Dragons; St. Mary’s School PE Class Team A; St. Mary’s School PE Class Team B; Brave Heart Dragon Boat Team; River Star Aggregates and Dragon Warriors Davao.
“We will also be auctioning 4 pcs. of 2nd hand carbon fiber paddles exclusively for participants to the 2nd Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race,” Asuncion said.
“Paddles will be numbered and can be inspected 10minutes before auction starts. Auction is on Jan 25 (Saturday), 630am at the race site. Starting bid is set at P2, 000 and only cash payments will be accepted.”
To encourage more participants to join the races, Dragon Boat Kagay-an will provide a helm and/or drummer free-of-charge (specially for newly formed teams),
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) will be also be provided for free and free school billeting for out-of-town teams.
“Three lucky teams participating in the 2nd Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race will dine at New Dawn Hotel Plus’ Topview Restobar, P.O.P.S. All-Filipino Eatery and Boy Zugba on Jan 25!” Asuncion said.
“New Dawn Hotel Plus is our Official Partner Hotel for the 2nd Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race and special discounts will be given to participating teams for their meals and accommodations,” he added.
Gracing this year’s race will be five officials from the prestigious Stanley Dragon Boat Association, Hong Kong (the race organizer of Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships) who will be conducting a training course for aspiring race officials.
Over the past four decades, the Stanley Residents Association has been integral in the growth and evolution of Dragon Boating – from being a long standing Chinese tradition to being one of the most popular international water sports today.
The annual Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships held in Hong Kong stands today as one of the largest tournaments of its kind with over 220 teams joining in the festive competition from around the world.
The Basic Dragon Boat Race Official Training Course will be held from January 22-26 by Mr. Edwin Hou, Vice Chairman of the Stanley Dragon Boat Association, Hong Kong.
The training includes 10 hrs. of classroom sessions,12 hrs. of hands-on officiating during the race, written and oral examinations, post-race evaluation, assessment and recommendations, and signed certificates for the successful trainees.
“We already have 25 participants for this free course,” Asuncion said. “Actual hands-on examination will be during the 2nd Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race on January 25-26. However, our trainer has graciously offered to open five more slots for the course.”
Participants to the Race Officials Training Course include local teams (Brave Heart, Ateneo Blue Dragons, St. Mary’s School Team Eeezeh), Cebu (Cebu Pink Paddlers), Cantilan, Surigao del Sur (Cantilan Red Dragons), Davao (Hiraya Minolawa,Team Hydra DBT, Amihan),Iligan City, and Hong Kong (Spanish Dragons).
Through the efforts of Mr. Ian Zapanta, St. Mary’s School will host the Race Officials Training Course. “It makes it more meaningful being the first school to adopt Dragon Boat Racing as part of their P.E. curriculum,” Asuncion noted.
The 2nd Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race is sponsored by Rep. Klarex Uy (1st District, Cagayan de Oro), Barangay Carmen through Bgy. Chair Lorna Uy, Vice Mayor Kikang Uy and New Dawn Hotel Plus (Official Partner Hotel).
