Dragon Boat Racing Festival
TriniView.com Reporters
Event Date: October 12, 2006
Posted: October 14, 2006
The Dragon Boat Races, a first time treat for the nation of Trinidad and Tobago, took place on Thursday 12th October, 2006, as part of the Chinese Bicentennial Day celebrations to a crowd of thousands at Williams Bay, Chaguaramas. Dragon boat racing can be traced back over 2000 years in China and is a popular sport in North America, Europe and Australia.
The journey to Chaguaramas was indeed long for many, literally taking hours to enter into the area from about Cocorite to the venue, the Kayak Centre. However, despite the long journey, people were happy to witness and participate in all the activities of the day which included a Lion Dance, steelpan music by the Chinese Bicentennial Steel Orchestra, performances by the Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan Dancers, the Chinese Arts Dancers and a Ribbon Dance performed by the School of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
The Dragon Boat Races featured thirty-six teams from various companies in Trinidad and Tobago and also featured teams from the six Chinese District Associations: the Chinese Association of Trinidad and Tobago, the Toy Shan Association, the China Civic Society, the Chung Shan Association, the Sun Wai Association and the Fui Toong On Association. The crowd was also treated to various meals including indigenous Chinese meals the people lined up for even during the sudden rainfall.
During the early morning period and before their races begun, teams could be seen stretching their limbs and practicing their different body formations in preparation. Some even took time off from their warm-up sessions to pose for some group shots showing pride in the teams that they represented.
Present at the event was the President of Trinidad and Tobago, George Maxwell Richards, First Lady Jean Ramjohn-Richards, their daughter Maxine, Housing Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, Works and Transport Minister Mr. Colm Imbert, China's Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Huang Xing and Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Chairman Calder Hart.
The Gillette Group of Companies team, "See Fah Soo" won the first ever Chinese Bicentennial Dragon Boat Race competition in the country, winning the challenge trophy, medals and Digicel phones among other things. The second runner up in the overall competition was the Sign Wave team, "Sharkfin Dumplins", followed by Excellent Stores team, "Excellent Titan" in third place. They also received medals and Digicel phones which was a prize that all registered teams in the competitions received.
The Sun Wai group was named the Chinese District Champions of the feature race, followed by the Chung Shan Oar-Sum Dim Sum group in second place and the Fui Toong On team in third place. The Sun Wai team’s trophy was presented by the President of Trinidad and Tobago, George Maxwell Richards.
The Chinese Bicentennial Dragon Boat Race Festival ended with a brief outline of its history by Mr. Collin Mitchell, Vice President of the Chinese Bicentennial Dragon Boat Race Festival Committee. According to Mr. Mitchell, the idea was born by Mr. Franco Siu Chong who had recognized that this sport could boost the sociocultural landscape of the country and could act in a cohesive way by binding the youth of the nation together. This sport, being over 2000 years old, is now part of Trinidad and Tobago. In fact, the Trinidad and Tobago Dragon Boat Federation has already been established and we are also a member of the International Dragon Boat Federation.
Dragon Boat Racing Festival in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=93308
Homepage | Chinese Bicentennial | Special Events | Photo Gallery
|
