The Inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Pageant swept by way of the island final weekend with massive crowds descending on the Kingston Harbour in Port Royal to see the introduction of the latest sport to the nation.
The groups from the Jamaica Protection Pressure (JDF) Coast Guard and the Chinese language Benevolent Affiliation (CBA) hunkered down within the specialised dragon themed boats to dominate the occasion and take prime honours within the first ever native competitors to be staged on the island on Saturday and Sunday on the Grande Lodge Excelsior. JDF and CBA got the identical time 1:04.257 whereas the Chinese language Embassy ended the race on 1:05.660 after being loudly cheered on by a really animated viewers that assembled on the lodge’s dock and viewing gallery.
The CBA captain Johnny Wong was very happy along with his group’s efficiency. “We hosted it. First time ever in Jamaica, historical past, and I feel we did very nicely. Subsequent 12 months we’re going to do it very higher. The group feels nice. First ever in Jamaica, feels very nice about it. We’re very completely happy that we even joined the win.”
“Properly, for us, we’re enthusiastic about being part of the competitors. We’re excited that we had been invited to be part of the primary ever competitors. We ready on Saturdays and Sundays over by Port Royal. We might have skilled within the morning and we might have additionally put within the effort, put within the work. So we got here out right here, we had a group plan, we had a aim and we delivered on that aim. “Properly, I’m very happy with my group” stated Tiran Maxwell, captained the JDF group.
Jamaica was topped Caribbean Dragon Boat race champion forward of the Bahamas and Workforce Misfits which was an invitational group with members from Canada, USA, China and Trinidad. Dragon Boat was established in Trinidad & and Tobago a while in the past and within the Bahamas for about 4 years now.
The competitors featured eleven groups from twelve nations. Every group had a minimal of twelve gamers which included ten paddlers, one drummer and a captain who steers the boat. The competitors attracted opponents from the Bahamas Canada, China, Germany, Philippine, Russia, Spain, Suriname, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, USA and host nation Jamaica. A few of the different groups that displayed their abilities had been UWI Confucius, Mckay Safety, CHEC Development, Purity Bakery, Common Meals and Hydra groups (2).
Members of the general public who stored coming from all throughout the nation even after it was completed, took up the provide to expertise the dragon boat race. That race noticed 4 boat masses on the ocean after a brief orientation. Allan Beckford, normal supervisor of the Sports activities Improvement Basis (SDF) welcomed the expertise. “I need to congratulate the organizers of the Dragon Boat Pageant right this moment. Fantastic occasion, so great that they really invited newcomers to do it and I used to be one who had that chance. So what it exhibits is a sport for everyone and the tourism potential of this sport is unbelievable.”
The energetic race director, Kerry Chow out of Canada is licensed by the game’s governing physique, the Worldwide Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF). He had excessive praises for the opponents and the Jamaican viewers who embraced the game. “It’s been wonderful. The quantity of people who find themselves enthusiastic in regards to the sport they’ve by no means seen. The native individuals who really got here down, raced the race, introduced their household was wonderful.”
“I really anticipated just a little bit much less and also you exceeded that by a mile. Once we have a look at the general consequence, the Jamaica CBA, the Chinese language Benevolent Affiliation and the coast guard are new, new to this sport however they had been proper there with the CBA group as a result of it’s their sport. It was wonderful watching groups tackle one another on the water, however coming off the water, the handshakes, the hugs, the friendship was wonderful” opined Chow
Chairman of the organizing committee Dalton Yap was very completely happy. “In the present day, finish of right this moment, but it surely was thrilling, it was exhilarating. The races had been simply filled with enjoyable, very aggressive and really completely happy that this competitors has come to such a, , thrilling finish. “Jamaicans thanks a lot for turning out in droves. We love you. It exhibits that you’ve got a ardour for the game, you may have an understanding.
Yap, in his function of president of the Jamaica Dragon Boat Federation acquired the instrument of membership into the IDBF from PanAm Federation president Franco Sui Chong in the course of the opening ceremony on the primary day. Earlier than I make this presentation, I’ll similar to to let that this can be a want come true for me. It has been 15 years. 15 years that I’ve been knocking on Jamaica to begin dragon boating in Jamaica. You’re introducing a sport, a world sport that can quickly be within the Olympics. You’re introducing an merchandise that’s for sport tourism. To me, dragon boating is the final word sport tourism product. Someday, I hope Jamaica will host the Pan-American dragon boat championships, which is able to deliver over 2,500 folks, and the worldwide dragon boat championships which brings 8,000 athletes. May you think about what that can do to the Jamaican financial system?
The opening ceremony was attended by the Custos of Kingston Steadman Fuller who represented the governor normal, Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith who represented the prime minister was represented and the Chinese language ambassador Chen Daojiang in addition to Vincent Chang, president of the CBA . All of them had excessive praises for the occasion when it comes to the general public assist and the profit that nation it may possibly ship to the nation.
