NDPS Youth Scholarship Presented to Marcus Farmer

On October 3, 2024, Nothin' Dragon Paddling Society had the privilege of presenting a scholarship to Marcus Farmer, the most deserving paddler from the Rapid Eagles for the 2023/24 school year. Marcus not only showcased exceptional dedication to dragon boating for his school, but he also frequently lent his skills to support our team as a talented steersman.

The student selection is made by the youth team’s coaches, Riverside teacher, Erica McArthur, former coach to Nothin’ Dragon; and Susan Priestly, a teacher from Gleneagle.

Miss McArthur was on hand for the presentation of a cheque and certificate, and mentioned Marcus’ dedication, in particular, that he leads the Dragon Boat Club table to solicit students to get involved in the sport.

“His commitment, leadership, and passion for the sport are truly inspiring,” said NDPS president, Robbin Whachell. “We are excited to see where his bright future in dragon boating takes him.”

Congratulations, Marcus. We are so proud of you!

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A shot of Marcus steering the Dragonfly for Nothin’ Dragon against the international vessel, Argent Aster.

About the youth team, Rapid Eagles: The team is made up of students from Riverside and Gleneagle secondary schools in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. They now compete under the name, The Rapids and they’ve been making waves in the youth division at Concord! Nothin’ Dragon is proud to provide the students with our boats and equipment as they continue to thrive.

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Celebrating a first place race at Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival on June 25. Linda Corcoran from Nothin’ Dragon on steer. Marcus is in the front right stroke position.

Great Times at FreshCo Richmond

We had a fantastic time in Steveston on August 24 at the FreshCo Richmond Regatta!

Last year we attended and never made it out on the water due to the crazy weather. This year we arrived to rain, but by the time of our first race, rain had lifted. The weather improved as the day progressed.

We were given a sweet team tent spot right by marshaling which was a rare treat.

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Coach Denise gives a pre-race talk at the start of our day.

Both of our assistant captains were not able to attend this event, but Sandra (past captain and now our treasurer) stepped up to take on the lead with much enthusiasm. Steve P led some wonderful warmups to invigorate us for each upcoming race. Dave F and Bruce kept us true down the course with great race calls by our drummer, Trish.

Although we didn't medal, we put in some of our best race times in our first two races and made it into the C Finals racing against two very young teams!

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Hangin’ out before our first race. Weather got better!

Our race results were:

• 2:12.28 (Race 15)

• 2:13.61 (Race 20 ABC Semi)

• 2:28.38 ( Race 43 C Final)

• View official race results

“Congratulations to the FreshCo Crew, finishing 15th overall in the Mixed Division (of 49 teams)!” said Coach Denise. “In 2018 we were 17th in the Mixed Division.”

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Thank you Henrietta!

Thanks to our race stats manager, Henrietta Hamming we’re able to report that race times in this event, ranked among some of our best ever!

“This is a testament to the excellent coaching we receive,” said Nothin’ Dragon Paddling Society president, Robbin. “Our records show that our women did a 500m in 2:14.22 at Penticton in 2023. In 2013 at the Rio Tinto Alcon (Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival) our mixed team did 2:10.71; and in 2019 at Victoria our Nothin’ Dragon mixed team did a remarkable 2:07.265 in their first race, 2:10.86 in their second race, and 2:14.23 in the third race. It’s not about bringing in the bling, but about progress as a team, and race results are the best gauge to show that.”

Nothin’ Dragon only entered one mixed team this event, so this gave the opportunity for some of our teammates to help on other teams. Congrats to Marg and Marjorie who earned a silver medal for helping a mixed Dragon Hearts team get to the J Final; and to Lori, Kirsten and Linda for helping Butts in a Boat get a gold medal in the F Final; and to Coach Denise whose team took Gold in the Women's Division A.

View our Facebook photo album.

Our next race event is in Penticton on September 7 and 8... Back to training!

Recreational Paddler Added to Membership

Thanks to the inspiration of Nothin’ Dragon alumnus, Ric Tesan, in 2023, the Alumni Paddle was formed and quickly morphed into our Recreational Paddle in 2024.

This is a casual paddle opportunity for our alumni to get back in the boat and keep enjoying the sport.

The creation of a recreational membership, was voted in during a Nothin’ Dragon Paddling Society meeting in 2024, and allows those over 50 years and new to dragon boat to give it a try.

It also assists existing Nothin' Dragon teammates to get more time on the water, recover after injury, try new positions, and build leadership.

The ‘rec paddle’ takes place on Wednesday mornings at Rocky Point Park.

A big thank you to teammates, Steve Mason who has helped with this endeavour from inception, and to Michele Joel and Bev McKenna, our rec paddle manager and assistant manager.

Interested in joining us in 2025 and beyond? Email us at nothindragonmasters@gmail.com to inquire about membership.

Celebrating Success: Paddling Society Awarded Rotary Club Community Grant!

We are thrilled to announce that the Nothin' Dragon Paddling Society has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious community grant from the Rotary Club of Port Moody. This exciting news arrived in July, marking a significant milestone for our organization and the community we serve.

Empowering Youth Through Water Sports

The grant will be instrumental in our efforts to introduce more youth to the exhilarating world of dragon boat paddling. These funds support transformative experiences that foster teamwork, resilience, and a deep appreciation for water sports.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we look forward to 2025, the grant will specifically support initiatives geared towards local students. We aspire to create lasting impacts in the lives of young participants.

A Heartfelt Thanks

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Rotary Club of Port Moody for their generous support and belief in our mission. Their commitment to community development aligns perfectly with our vision of promoting health, wellness, and camaraderie through dragon boating.

Together, let's continue to make waves and inspire the next generation of paddlers!

About Nothin' Dragon Paddling Society

The Nothin' Dragon senior team is based in Port Moody, B.C., and operates under the Nothin’ Dragon Paddling Society. Paddling off the shores of Rocky Point Park, the team promotes participation, fitness, camaraderie and community spirit. Nothin’ Dragon has approximately 65 members and supports The Rapids dragon boat high school team made up of students from Riverside and Gleneagle Secondary.

Dragon Boat Experiences are Back!

“From fitting equipment to exhilarating paddles, Enterprise Truck Rental’s Dragon Boat experience was an incredible journey of teamwork and excitement. ‘Best team event ever!’ echoed through the evening, as we bonded, synced, and soaked in every moment. With heartfelt thanks to the entire team, this unforgettable adventure will be shared far and wide. What a rush, that was so exciting!”

— Enterprise Truck Rental

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The crew from Enterprise Truck Rental

After a hiatus, Nothin Dragon is back in action, bringing exhilarating dragon boat experiences to eager participants.

On May 4, the Talitha Koum Society enjoyed a memorable paddle, followed by Enterprise Truck Rental on May 7, immersing themselves in the art of dragon boat paddling under the leadership of the Nothin’ Dragon’s Coach Denise surrounded by the scenic beauty of the region.

During May, Nothin' Dragon has been hosting high school groups from School District 43's CABE (the Coquitlam Alternative Balanced Education) and the Encompass Program, as well as middle school groups from Ecole Moody Middle School of the Arts. Until the school term ends in June and once students return in September, Nothin' Dragon will be hosting more school groups for these educational and thrilling experiences on the water. We are also excited to be hosting Professional Development Day Dragon Boat Experiences for educators in the coming months, as a way of demonstrating potential dragon boating field trips for their students. We also host corporate team-building events.

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It was a pleasure to take the ladies from Talitha Koum Society out on a dragon boat experience last Friday! This paddle was sponsored by Centrum Solutions.

Behind the scenes, our dedicated boat booking manager, Dale Bryant, along with his assistant, Carol Argue, have been diligently orchestrating and coordinating these outings, ensuring seamless and unforgettable adventures for all involved.

Past president, Brian Kenny, a retired school counsellor, is the event narrator and provides educational and enlightening information during rest breaks on the water. Coach Denise adds her expertise and makes even the novice paddler feel confident during the experience.

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Dragon boat experiences build teamwork!

It’s a team effort! Thanks to all our teammates who come out to ensure boats are ready, guests are greeted and suited with PFDs and paddles, and are there to lead from the drummer’s seat, drive the safety boat or help with the stroke in the boat.

Nothin’ Dragon extends its heartfelt appreciation to the sponsors who make these outings possible, including Centrum Solutions, Mama Said Pizza, Pajo’s Fish & Chips, Pasta Polo Coquitlam, The Coquitlam Grill and Save on Foods Coquitlam.

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Thank you Pasta Polo Coquitlam for fueling our dragon boat team with mouthwatering pizza before we conduct our dragon boat experiences! Your support keeps us energized and ready to conquer the waters.

Interested in a Dragon Boat Experience? Contact us at nothindragonmasters@gmail.com to learn more.