The Kootenay Rhythm Dragons — Sisters In Sync finished first in the women’s championship “B” division at the Kelowna Dragon Boat Festival last weekend. This festival brought together teams from BC and Alberta racing in the women’s and mixed divisions.
In the morning 250-metre sprint race the Sisters finished in second place with a time of 1:21.38. As the waves rolled in, the squad raced the Calgary Sistership and Kelowna Dragonfire teams to finish in first place in the 500-metre race with a time of 2:52.65. The afternoon wild wind storm did not stop the fun and camaraderie as the team enjoyed the paddlers party with Memphis Blues.
In the Sunday Breast Cancer Challenge Ceremony, Mary Walters represented the Kootenay Rhythm Dragons with the Kootenay Robusters of Christina Lake.
Sunday morning started with a hard fought race against the Lightning Edmonton team (a young national team). The Sisters paddled strong keeping pace with the youngsters, ahead of the Kelowna Women On Fire and finished in second place. The 2:36.85 time landing the Sisters in a first time ever “B” Division Championship.
With Puleng Pratt as coach/drummer and Diane Tulloch as calm, confident steersperson the team brought it together again facing Dragonfire, Breast Friends Edmonton and Kelowna Flow Riders. The ladies paddled strong, in sync with the strokes and an amazing final surge to finish with a time 2:34.22.
The Sisters brought home first place in the B Championship Division and a fourth place overall.
The team has been steadily training with six new paddlers and assistance from the Kootenay Rhythm Dragons LOL and recreational team members to achieve this outstanding success.
The next festival takes place in Penticton in September.