Every second counts in dragon boat racing

“I had never set foot in a dragon boat before, but I fell in love with the sport the moment I did, because it was so exciting,” says Henry Chow, Patient Care Assistant of Department of Occupational Therapy of Tai Po Hospital, bubbling with enthusiasm after joining the New Territories East Cluster (NTEC) Dragon Boat Team this year. As a keen sportsman, Henry felt he came to dragon boat racing too late after his first experience. “You can rest by the side of the pool when you’re tired of swimming, but you can’t stop when you’re racing in a dragon boat,” he explains. “If you’re just half a beat behind your teammates, it affects the speed of the boat. This sport reminds me that no matter what setbacks I encounter, I should not give up and understand that my teammates will assist me.”

As NTEC team’s coach, Nancy Louie, Advanced Practice Nurse of Community Outreach Services Team of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, has more than 20 years’ experience in dragon boat racing and has won prizes in various competitions, racing in destinations as far afield as Hangzhou, Japan, Thailand, and Hungary. The key to victory in dragon boat racing is not only physical strength but also team collaboration, she believes. “Even if a group of fitness instructors is assigned to the dragon boat, if one of them is not moving at the same pitch, the whole boat will be in disarray and there is a good chance they will lose to another team of slim girls who paddle in unison,” Nancy says. Cultivating a tacit understanding between team members takes practice, and lots of it. Although many team members work shifts, they all take part in training sessions three times a week. “Some of us even practise between the morning and overnight shifts,” reflects Nancy. “It is like administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a patient in a ward. Who is responsible for compressing the chest and who is responsible for giving medication? We have to drill and rehearse to familiarise ourselves with the positions beforehand.”

A sport with no age limit

As well as participating in the Hospital Authority (HA) Dragon Boat Team and NTEC team, Nancy competes in teams with like-minded friends and this year took part in the Thailand championships where she was a drummer in the Senior C team, whose paddlers must be aged 60 or above. The team won a gold medal. “There is no age restriction for drummers, and I am grateful that the older members let me participate in the team. I hope I maintain my physical fitness and paddle until I reach the age of 60, just like them,” she says with a smile. Dragon boat racing is a sport suitable for men and women of all ages and is also a healthy pastime for people with sight and hearing impairments or need rehabilitation. “Some breast cancer survivors have formed a dragon boat team, which not only helps improve the symptoms of lymphoedema, but also creates a spirit of friendship between the patients and family members when going through thick and thin. Dragon boating is suitable for people with a range of illnesses, and a life engaged in sports is happier and healthier,” Nancy says.

Charles Siu, Supplies Supervisor of NTEC Procurement and Materials Management Division, is referred to as Chief Coach by NTEC Dragon Boat teammates. He has coached the team for more than 10 years, leading it to second place in the Busan and Osaka International Dragon Boat Competitions. “Athletes who play football or run races may hide their unique skills, but in dragon boat racing, it is just the opposite. Instead of trying to give 120% of your ability, you have to help your teammates give 120% of their ability. Most importantly, we share and discuss ideas for improvement,” he says. Charles also coaches HA Dragon Boat Team and other teams. As most HA team members have medical backgrounds, teaching them is twice as effective, Charles has found. “Colleagues from the HA quickly understand the bones and muscles required for different various movements, as well as the principles of levers used to propel the dragon boat. They are also very team-oriented, which is a characteristic of the HA,” he explains.

The first post-epidemic competition for hospital clusters was scheduled for 7 October, but was postponed because of the typhoon. Racers reacted by continuing their preparations and looking forward to the moment they crossed the finishing line after another superb team effort – regardless of whether they finish first or last.

Interview video