OARSOME EFFORT: Pybar team in action at yesterday’s dragon boat regatta. Photo: JEFF DEATH
A BIG effort by dragon boat paddlers on Lake Canobolas yesterday has resulted in thousands of dollars being raised for local charities.
Organised by Taste Orange as part of this year’s Slow Summer festival, the event was an overwhelming success executive officer of Taste Orange Rhonda Sears said.
Hundreds of participants and supporters lined the western shore of Lake Canobolas yesterday for the regatta which attracted 16 teams.
After a series of heats held throughout the morning it was the teams of Cargo Shearers, Pybar, Ashcrofts IGA and Taste Orange which made it through to the final.
Triumphing in the final battle on the lake as storm clouds gathered overhead was the Cargo Shearers team, which not only made it over the finish line first but topped the list of fundraising among the finalists raising more than $3500 for the Cargo Public School P & F Association.
Mrs Sears said it was exciting to see that the event had attracted regional interest with teams travelling from Lithgow, Bathurst, Forbes and Dubbo to take part.
Each of the 16 teams that nominated for the competition nominated a charity to benefit from their huge effort in the boat.
Mrs Sears has paid tribute to the event co-ordinator Pearl Butcher who is considered to be the pioneer of dragon boat racing in Orange.
“She has done a wonderful job pulling all the teams together,” she said.
Mrs Sears said although today is the final day of activities for the 2013 Slow Summer festival with the Animals on Bikes ride from Molong to Dubbo, the organisation will hardly skip a beat before launching into the next activity.
“We have 18 wineries who will be represented in Sydney next month at the Sydney Cellar Door activities in Hyde Park from February 22 - 24,” she said.
RELATED COVERAGE:
* Slow summer the hottest show in town
* Shorter festival key to survival
* Night market is star of the show
* A Day @ the Beach dragon boat regatta
