2011 Boston Race Results
For those who were not there for the Boston Race weekend, it was quite
some weekend. With two mix crews and a women's crew. Most of the
DBCB double paddled.
Team Mass Dragons: ( Mix Crew)
Members: Emily, Lynn, CG, Lick, Nikki, Sarah E., Alice, Jen
Tsoi,Laurinda, Phil M., Allen C., Mik, Gim, Kevin (xcrispy),Helena,
Marek, and on Saturday subing: April , Baris for Alice and Kevin who
couldn't attend.
Drummer: Garhay
Steerer: Stef C.
Team Water Puppies
Members: Garhay, Nancy, Stef, Kalena, Jen Chiu, Martha, Laura M., Jim
G., Igor, Mike M., Friso, Chris W., Phil W., Doug, Ron T., Ralph and
on Saturday subing for Ralph was our former President and paddler
Jonathan S.
Drummer: Jen T.
Steerer: ADK
Team Heatwave
Members: Garhay, Nancy, Emily, Lynn, Jen T., Jen C., Martha, Stef,
Laura M., CG, Claire, Ashley, Anita Y., Kalena, Laurinda, Joyce,
Chris, Jenny alternating (from Ripple Effect)
Drummer: Lynn / Jen T./ Lick (alternating)
Steerer: ADK
Saturday Time Trials
Weather was mildly cool, cloudy and forecasted to be rain and possible
thunder showers. All three teams had early heats. Arrival time was
6:30AM and no later than 6:45AM. WOW what an early start. Some were
early, some were prompt, and some were late. But we all made it to
the time trials at MIT Boat House. Still a bit groggy for some.
Paddlers start gathering as the festival begins the registration
process. The mood was calm, and the co-captains begins to organize
our paddlers in alphabetic order to check in. I see some are lost
(and why wouldn't they be, as they do have to get up quite early for
the 6:30AM arrival as parking is brutal) as where they should be
standing but finally all the captains on DBCB organized their paddlers
and got things moving.
Water Puppies is scheduled to be on the 1st heat at 8AM. OF course in
Dragon Boating, there's a lot of hurry up and wait. So the time
trials finally got started at 8:15AM. Water puppies were in Lane 3
(closer to shore),and with inexperience dock staff, we were about 3
feet away from hitting the wall. Lane 1 was Newton Tigers (high
School), Lane 2 was Living Root - Red (2nd boat). The horn sounded,
and off the teams go. We were drifting to the wall as we started, none
of our paddlers were able to apply pressure to the paddle when this
started, and we were neck to neck on heat one with LR Red and the
results on this heat were : 1st : DBCB Water Puppies with a time of
2:32.531081, LR Red with 2"33.346, and Newton Tigers in third:
3:28.474. On the way back, the Puppies discussed among themselves,
that's way too close for comfort, let's get a better start, and
there's consensus among the puppies. Now on the 2nd heat, the Puppies
were determined to do better, so here we go: we had a better start as
we moved away from the wall. The results: Water Puppies: 2:27.549, LR
Red- 2:39.504 and Newton Tigers: 3:32.170. Needless to say, the
Puppies howled with approval.
Up next is the Women's crew: Heatwave
Lane 3 is once again our lane, and lane 2 is Living Root -Blue (1st
boat)- Lane 3 was Brimmer May (High School)- 1st heat , Heatwave came
in 2nd with a time of 2:45.791, LR-Blue came in 1st with a time of
2:28.08 and Brimmer and May came in 3rd at 3:10.608. Heatwave said we
liked that race, it felt great, We did really well and we want to keep
everything as is , the only thing is we want to improve on our finish.
2nd heat coming up, off we went. All I can remember finish it NOW,
and we just went. Results: LR - Blue 1st: 2:27.287, Heatwave:
2:44.550, and BM at 3:07.05. Wow, how amazing is that, both crews did
better in their 2nd heat, and I was so impressed. Where most likely
it's the opposite for other teams.
Last but not least is Mass Dragons:
Lane 3 (yet once again is our lane, Uggh). But no worries, MD was
ready, with April and Baris on our boat, C'mom let's go. Lane 2 was
Pirate of the Charles, and Lane 1 was The Team Crab Rangoons Never Say
Die. Mass Dragons pulled a time of 2:43.470 with almost half of a new
crew but also with the awesome power with veterans like Nikki, and
Lick. Team Crab Rangoon came in 2nd at 2:51.543 and Pirates at 3rd at
3:36.136. Second heat took off and Mass Dragons came in at 1st once
again at 2:47.561, Team Crab Rangoon at 2:57.355 and Pirates 3:40.292
The racing is over now until Sunday. It's set. Oerall, Wwater puppies
took 4th in the time trials, and Heatwave seated at 17 and Mass
Dragons at #20. Overall all three crews seated top 20 of the whole
time trials. So proud and pleased. Mass Dragons made it to the C
Division, Heatwave B, and Water Puppies Division A.
SUNDAY : RACE Day. Game is ON
Arrival Time: 8:00.
Of course, Jim, Lynn, Lick, Stef, Garhay, Emily, and Myself all
started at 5:AM to set up tents and drop off supplies. Thank you for
all that.
Weather was horrible and we had to postpone the start of the race.
Good spirits as I see our paddlers curled up in the shelted tent with
blankets and hot chocolates. Good times and sucky weather.
1st race is off at 8:30AM. Delayed
Our 1st heat ws Mass Dragons at heat # 10 : Setated in Lane 2, Verizon
Dragons at lane 1, and Fire Dragons at Lane 3. All I hear is one of
our paddler saying I need MD to beat Verizon.. and I won't say who
that is..
Mass Dragon finished the race with a boat length lead with a time of
2:46.642 over Verizon Dragons's 2:49.824, and Fire Dragons finishing
at 2:58.811. MD team members were greeted by the Puppies and the
Heatwave women with high fives and congrats.
Now Heatwave is ON. Racing against two mix crew. . Jade Dragaons in
lane 2, and State Street Gold Dragons in Lane 3, and Heatwave in lane
1. Heatwave was ready and just run our own race. Heatwave finished
3rd with a respectable time of 2:57.070, Jade Dragons lead the pack
with 2:40.644 and Golden Dragons with a 2+ penalty for interferring
with the lanes at a time of 2:43.422. Joyce from Ripple said, I love
the energy on the women's crew. It's awesome. It's great paddling
with you guys. It was an amazing race. We did awesome.
The puppies are ready to be unleashed as we face off both Living Root
crews, RED AND BLUE. IT's intense. Our mission is just to run our
own race and do well. WP in Lane 3, LR Blue in Lane 2 and LR red in
Lane 1. WP camed out of the gate slow. We were neck in neck with the
LR Blue and then in the middle of the race. Stef yelled out "REACHED
FOR IT" .. All I can hear is a lot of grunting and breathing and
really heaing the UNIFORMED mind of the Puppies for the first time. We
increased our rating and off we went, and when Jen Tsoi called FINISH
IT NOW, we exploded out of the gate and blew everyone out of the water
in the finish, we came up like a rocket and had an amazing finish.
Time: 2:25.440, and LR Blue placed 2nd at 2:28.809 and LR Red at 3rd
at 2:43.268. Woohoo, that felt great.
With the above performance.
WP placed in the A MAJOR, Mass Dragons placed in C MAJOR, and Heatwave
placed in the tail, but Heatwave also qualified for the Womens'
challenge as we were one of the top three womens' crew.
Great racing overall. LUNCH time. Wait , the Heatwave women can not
have lunch yet since they are up for the Women's Challenge, in the
great company of Dragon Heart, Harvard Athena. At this time, Heatwave
women already raced three times each pretty much back to back.
Exhausted but they are still gamed, they finished at a time of
2.49:547 and scored a Bronze medal in the division. Dragon Heart
finished 1st at 2:46.409, and Harvard Athena finished 2:47.858.
Next up Major C championship, Mass Dragons is now placed in a very
tight competition with Deloitte Dragon and Vitasoy Seadog Blue. Mass
Dragons put up a fight, and took the Bronze 2:46.072, while Vitasoy
Seadogs Blue took the silver at 2:45.385 and Deloitte Dragons GOLD at
2:44.684
Then it was Heatwave women again in their tail race, and it was a
tough race, part of the women on Heatwave were on mass dragons which
was the heat before and we were told that we will have to forfeit the
race because they won't hold the race. So the team decided that was
the best decision. So the rest of the team members spread out and
enjoyed the racing. Then we see Mass dragons returning from the race,
and the teams in our heat have not left for the race. At the split
moment, the Heatwave women decided we are going to race this one last
time. We counted, we are missing one of our members because they went
over to the festival side after we've decided to forfeit the race. We
tell Lick to jump off the boat and be our drummer, tell Lynn to paddle
who was suppose to be our drummer, and ADK still having a sandwich in
her hands, to jump in to steer. we are off. we put up a tough fight.
we are tired beyond believe especially the MD women. It was a tough
race, we raced against two mix crews, and we took third at a time of
DBCB - Heatwave 2:55.058.
Last but not least, the Puppies is up at the final race of the day,
the Grand championship. we are in lane 3 with good company of Catch
22 and Mad. We deserve to be here, we want to do well ,and we will
run our own race. The Puppies was determined, everyone focused, and
everyone want this really bad. The race is off, and we put up a huge
fight, with every determined command from Jen Tsoi, and the awesome
steering from ADK, and all the engine room ramped up and the strokes
every distinguished stroke. We are moving and moving and moving.
We ran an awesome race, and it was our race and our race alone. We
finished at a time of 2:22.677, leading the pack in Gold is Catch-22
at 2:16.078 and Silver goes to MAD MAD 2:18.188.
We had an awesome day of racing, and the sun finally came out for us.
It was a great day of racing, and I overhead from a lot of paddlers
this is some of the best racing they have attended.
Until Montreal.......
Written by: Jen Chiu
