Evidently, the 'Dragons' like it hot ... not even the most serious heat-wave in recent memory could dampen the energy for 24 DragonBoat teams (over 500 paddlers) brought to the Dragon Boat Festival in Waterford, Sunday 22 June 2025.
Sponsored once again by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) and the Cancer Resource Support Program (CSRP), this annual, community event is a major fundraiser for both organizations. Well-over 30 volunteers were onsite including Rotary Sunrisers, CSRP members, family, friends and students.
On Race Day, the heats started at 9am and finished up around 4pm. In spite of the record temperatures, spirits ran high throughout the park with many moving to the great music provided and the cheering as race times and winners were announced. Everyone was kept nourished with the local food vendors onsite and entertained with music all day long. Again this year, we arranged for formal team pictures to be taken behind the wooden dragon boat and paddles made by Abel Enterprises. Again his year, a highlight of the day was the carnation ceremony to remember all those currently battling breast cancer, those in remission and those who have died.
Go to the 'Read more ...' tab for more on this story, the participating teams, notes of our appreciation, our connection to the CSRP and more.
Until next year - Paddles Up! (or maybe down for a wee rest)
General.
It 
was a community event - by the community and for the community. Many spectators came by and parked a chair by the water to watch the races. Others out for a walk or bike-ride through the park were surprised by the event and some lingered a little longer than planned to stop for lunch.
was a community event - by the community and for the community. Many spectators came by and parked a chair by the water to watch the races. Others out for a walk or bike-ride through the park were surprised by the event and some lingered a little longer than planned to stop for lunch. Perhaps the most significant take away from this event is that all the monies raised are intended to remain in our community. The RCNS and the CSRP have great plans to ensure those funds are spent wisely and within our local community. Once again, we can only thank everyone connected to this terrific event for the success we were able to achieve.
For a complete reckoning of the event along with participant, race results and photos, please visit our Invasion of the Dragons website. A compilation of photos taken during the day is at the RCNS web-page photo link - this includes the photos taken by our volunteer team photographer, Kurt Chambers. For other stories, try our RCNS FaceBook site.
The Winning Team(s).
As teams raced and progressed throughout the day, they were slotted into 3 final divisions where 3 boats raced for bragging rights in each division. The first place team of each division were awarded medals to remember their victory by. This was the sort of event where everyone won; not least of which was our own Norfolk community. Nonetheless, it was a race and there were 3 divisional winners (click here to see detailed results). In the end, the Be! Lively (Lively Dragon Club, Hamilton) team prevailed as first among equals, A Div Champion. They become the team to be slayed next year! Team pictures are at this link.Appreciation Notes for Those Who Made this Event a Success.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped to organize and execute this day - it wouldn’t have been possible without you! As the saying goes; 'many hands make light work'. So as to recognize so much appreciated help; individual contributions are listed as follows;
- RCNS Core Planning Group - Gail Catherwood, Carol Mummery, Andy Kooistra, Cathy Harrop & Joanne Kiefer;
- RCNS Member Volunteers - Gail Bouw, Dave Bradshaw, Jim & Marjorie Dawson, Dave Douglas, Ross Gowan, Keith Jones, Michele Langedyk, Wolf Lindeman, Paul Macko, Mary Mercato, Tina Millea, Linda Muir, Jill Ormsby, Louise Schebesch, Pam Shantz, Jim Simpson, John Wallace, Wes Wilson, Paul Zorad;
- Friends of the RCNS - We were grateful to have volunteers Kurt Chambers and Jess Phelps organizing our team pictures. Were also grateful for Keith Catherwood, Heather & Scott Furtney, Chris Howe and Martin Kiefer along with a good number of students and locals who contributed their time.
Several photos of our enthusiastic volunteer group are included here but many more are shown at this link.
The RCNS would also like to express our sincere gratitude to;
our major sponsors (MHN Lawyers LLP, Caradoc Townsend Mutual Insurance Company, the Wanda & Scott Memorial Golf Tournament and the Audrey S Hellyer Charitable Foundation with Josh Heller),- Good Redden Klosler, Ingenue and Life Labs for sponsoring the medals presented to members of all teams that won their division,
- Alkame Dragon Boat Services for another great year; and
- the many other community groups that supported us, contributed in smaller ways or just plain attended so as to encourage us along.
Our printed ’thank you’ hardly seems equal to the task.
Connection to Cancer Support & Resource Program (CSRP).
Our Club has a very close relationship of mutual support with the CSRP as evidenced by the successful conduct of this event. The CSRP is dedicated to assisting those touched by cancer to take charge of their choices and offer a variety of emotional support services.A break was taken during the festivities to remember all those currently battling breast cancer, those in remission and those who have died. Carnations were given to all survivors who waved them while sitting in a boat on the water while the song 'I'm Still Standing Here' (selected by Carol Mummery and sung by Karan Casey) played. The ceremony is an integral part of the day.
Co-located with the Sunriser's tent was the CSRP team, here represented by Gail Catherwood, Diana Besalaere, Carol Mummery and Pat Tebbs.
What a great cause we help to support.
See a Compilation of Event Photography.
Click here to go to the Club Runner collection of event photos and team pictures.
