Our achievements
October-10 to March-11
NZDBA Nationals at Rotorua.
October-09 to March-10
In the first Sunday of December 2009, we competed at the Ice Breaker at Kerr's Reach on the Avon River Christchurch. Three weeks into February 09 we were at the Early Bird Regatta which 'Christened' Lake Pegasus, north of Christchurch. Our race times generally improved through the day and we finished in seventh place.
On the first Saturday in March we competed at the Lake Hood "South Island Champs". For the first time ever, Aoraki organise a "Women's Final", and finished with a bronze, behind "Tu Meke" and "Waimak Express".
And then three weeks later we won Bronze at the NZDBA Nationals (again on Lake Hood).
October-08 to March-09
Early December 2008 was the first ever "Ice Breaker" regatta, at Kerr's Reach on the Avon River Christchurch. The Early Bird Regatta was also at Kerr's Reach, but then Aoraki ran their first ever Dragon Boat Regatta on Lake Hood near Ashburton (although several Waka Ama regatta had been run on the lake in the past).
NZDBA Nationals were at a "neutral" venue for the first time - at the Blue Lakes near Rotorua.
October-07 to March-08
August 2007 saw a major change in the South Island Dragon Boating scene, when Robin and Jane retired from running the sport. Local teams stepped up to the plate, and formed Aoraki Dragons so that the sport would continue.
At the same time, boats and equipment (ie paddles) were being upgraded to "IDBF Spec", so ABOL were now getting used to their new ZRE carbon fibre paddles, and racing in "Champion" fibre glass dragon boats.
Abreast of Life took a strong team and support crew up to Auckland to compete at the Nationals Champs on Lake Pupuke, which was our first chance to try the new Champion Dragon Boats (above).
October-06 to March-07
Just two festivals for us this year, The South Island Champs on 4 March 2007, and then the New Zealand Nationals on March 24-25, both held in Christchurch on Lake Roto Kahutu.
With several new women in the boat, and a disrupted training season, which meant several practices were abandoned or we had less than a full boat, our expectations were not great for the racing programme this season.
But after what could best be described as disappointing finishes and race times for our first three races, paddlers dug really deep for our semi-final and final, and pulled off an unexpected but exhilarating win in our last two races, taking gold in the first ever Breast Cancer Division Championship in the New Zealand Dragon Boat National Championship Festival.
November-05 to March-06
After all the hard work of the past long season in 2005, and having several new paddlers in the boat, we decided to have a "fun" season this summer. Only one local festival was held - the Christchurch Festival - held at Lake Roto Kohatu on March 5. This was the first racing experience for some of our women, and we performed well, improving our times through the day. We also participated in a "Fun Day" on Lyttelton Harbour, with about 8 other teams, racing a short course off Magazine Bay.
On March 11 we paddled in the New Zealand DB National Festival at Wellington, and enjoyed the competition with other breast cancer teams from Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington. We were pleased with our performance to win bronze in the Open Social Final.
June 2005
In our winter, but northern hemisphere's summer, we competed in the 10th Anniversary Abreast in a Boat Regatta on False Creek, Vancouver, Canada. We won silver for our 2nd place in the C Division Championship, won by Survivorship who also went on to win the ScotiaBank Cup in the grand final.
Our championship time was 2 min 40.820, better than any of the times posted in the grand final, so we can be well pleased with our results.
Click for team photo - racing - in transit
November-04 to March-05
Our goal for 2005 was to compete in the Alcan Festival and the 10th Anniversary Breast Cancer Regatta in Vancouver over two weekends in June. As we needed all our funds and more to pay for our Canada trip, and as we didn't start our boat training until February, we reluctantly decided to forgo defending our national title, so we didn't compete in any local or national regattas this summer.
November-03 to March-04
Competed in:
Club Event, Nelson, January 2004
Early Bird Competition, Christchurch, February 2004
South Island Championships, Christchurch, February 2004
New Zealand Nationals, Christchurch, March 2004:
We again won Gold in the Cancer Survivors Division Grand Final
Inaugural South Pacific Breast Cancer Regatta, Auckland, March 2004.
Won Silver, competing against Auckland and 10 other teams from Australia, Canada and USA. Also brought home the trophy for competition between Busting with Life and Abreast of Life.
Final times and placings:
1. Pink Phoenix (USA) 1.30.11
2. Abreast of Life 1.30.25
3. Busting with Life (Auck) 1.31.17
4. Dragons Abreast (Aust) 1.33.09
5. Survivorship (Canada) 1.33.60
Competed in local festivals in Christchurch during the season. At the Early Bird festival Abreast of Life had the distinction of being the most improved team throughout the day of competition.
November-02 to March-03
New Zealand Nationals, Wellington, March 2003:
Won Gold in the Cancer Survivors Division Grand Final at New Zealand Nationals, held in association with the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival. Paddled against 9 other teams from Auckland, Wellington, Australia, Canada and United States.
Final times and placings:
1. Abreast of Life 1.48.66
2. Pink Phoenix (USA) 1.50.26
3. Busting with Life (Auck) 1.50.58
4. Survivorship (Canada) 1.51.14
5. Chemo Savvy (Canada) 1.57.92
6. Dragons Abreast (Aust) 2.01.74
Summer 2000
On 7 September 1999 the Abreast of Life Dragon Boat Team was officially launched. Abreast of Life compete for the very first time in the Christchurch Early Bird Regatta on 30 January, 2000. Then competed in the Christchurch Casino Dragon Boat Festival in March 2000.