Exeter Report

Exeter Report

So on Saturday 10^th July, there I was in my car with 2 people I hardly knew, driving down the M5 and about to share a tent with one of them…! What was I doing?

 

My first Dragon Boat league race… and the sign on the side of the road said ‘Welcome to Exeter’!

 

We found the campsite easily thanks to Jazz’s expert knowledge of the area, and the fact that Max had gone to uni there. Immediately we arrived and signed in, ‘Mrs Smith’s Café’ was open… tea and scones (what more do we expect from the hospitality shown to all of us for the whole weekend from Nicky and Rob!).

 

I’m still bowled over by their camping provision… which does include the kitchen sink!!!! 

 

Being the ‘newby’, it took a while to get in the swing of how the Worcester Dragons approach league races… that would be open a bottle of wine, get the BBQ on and bring on the games!!!

 

After a slightly random try at Twister with no mat or twizzly thing that tells you where exactly to put your hands (!!!!), Petra started the drinking games with an enthusiastic round (or 4!!) of ‘slaps’ which resulted in several people having to drink more than their share of alcohol, which boded well for game no. 2 – the now infamous ‘cereal box’ game. Yes, this was my idea, and Natalie was a well deserved winner showing just how supple and flexible she is, but watch out for Rochelle next time, she showed that all her childhood gymnastic technique is still there!

 

 Remarkably, the highlight of the evening had to be the boys entertaining the girls with their rendition of the Macarena…. Oh, how us girls laughed!! (Sorry, is it rude to point and laugh at boys???!!). Having said that, Luke showed everyone that he was ‘move perfect’ (I’m sure Strictly Come Dancing will be in touch for the next series Luke!) and Steve showed us that he’s still gets confused between left and right!!!   

 

 

… and so with everyone keen to impress on (footnote for later J) the water the next day, it was bed time – the less said the better but how many people can you fit in one sleeping bag Mr Lamb…!!!

 

 

After a fantastic full English at the pub over the road, we were all off to Exeter dock.

 

Everyone had said Exeter was one of the best racing venues, and it didn’t disappoint… the old ‘brown plate’ dockside has been transformed into great waterside apartments and the bonded warehouses are beautifully restored and full of unique coffee houses, furniture designer workshops and art galleries… so plenty to do between races! (Husbands and partners were breaking into a cold sweat and asking ‘Where’s my credit card gone?’!!)

 

With our boats on the water, and crowds in the hundreds, it was time to set up camp no.2… and again, Mrs Smith’s Café didn’t disappoint J

 

Max did a wonderful job of motivating the Dragonflies throughout the day and took her role as Team Captain responsibly, using all her teaching skills to keep us in line and make sure we all knew our homework and were ready for the next race!

 

Lisa took charge of the Dragons warm ups, with Ben and Rob running through team talks, getting everyone focussed, fired up and ready to race.

 

The adrenalin rush of that first league for any ‘virgin racer’ is not something that’s forgotten quickly but the camaraderie of the whole team, regardless of which crew you were, is  a real credit to Worcester Dragons and what makes us the team we are. The encouragement, support and outright shouting (or do I mean screaming?!!!) from the side can’t fail to impress how everyone else wants the team racing to do well. A truly memorable moment was the Dragons forming a celebratory walk through for the Flies after we competed in the Plate Minor Final and took the race right to the finish line, giving the whole crowd something to talk about (and worry about!) for the next league races!   

 

There were a few dramatic moments…

-          Ed getting ‘t-boned’ by an opposing dragon head!

-          Andy injuring his shoulder as he tried to single handledly push the invading dragon boat away

-          Kieran getting clattered on the elbow and needing some emergency first aid (but still paddled through – brave and tenacious to the end!)

 

Throughout the day there was a real sense of  friendship and respect among Worcester Dragons, no matter what part everyone played in the day… and apparently someone had said if Worcester Dragons ever beat Amathus they would be in (footnote completed!) the water!

 

 

 

 

Nice one Luke…. Was that your last clean t-shirt of the weekend?!!!

 

The only person who came off worse, was the dragon head that arrived back at the landing site a little worse for wear, and minus 2 horns!!

 

A great day, a large drink and a big thank you from me to all of you