South C Dragons to hold come and try for 2021 South West Games

Committee member and paddler Marg Cope said the club was building momentum with new members making their debut at a Ballarat regatta on the weekend.

It was the club's first competition for about two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.

There were 20 teams from places such as Bendigo, Mildura, Melbourne and Gippsland at Lake Wendouree.

"We lost a couple of members during COVID of course because that's what happens," Cope said.

"People are out of it for two years and then they don't get back into it and they're at an age where they decide to retire.

"But we picked up seven new members in the last few months and they are so keen and eager.

"The fact that they came to Ballarat with us for that regatta on the weekend was amazing and they loved it and can't wait for the next one."

The group is hosting a dragon boating come and try session for women 18 years and over on Saturday from 7.45-11am as part of South West Games.

It's at Lyndoch boat jetty on the Hopkins River in Warrnambool.

The week-long Games are about promoting participation with various come and try opportunities on offer.

Dragon boating is a growing team sport in Australia which sees paddlers race against each other.

Cope explained a boat accommodated up to 20 paddlers, a sweep who steered and a drummer who helped with timing.

The club has about 30 paddlers with members in their 30s through to early 70s.

The committee member said the club had a Dragon Pass on offer which gives newcomers insurance for four free sessions on the water.

Cope said South C Dragons' next big event would likely be at Docklands in Melbourne in February, 2022.

She added the Warrnambool group hosted its first ever regatta in 2019 which attracted about 10 teams.

South C Dragons train each Saturday morning at 7.45am at Hopkins River. The session usually goes for one hour.

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