By Rori Bennett – Junior Reporter
The Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat Festival was held on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. in Wallaceburg. It was scheduled to run until 4 p.m. However, due to a series of thunderstorms, the event was stopped at approximately 12:30 p.m.
This year was the 18th year for the Dragon Boat Festival in Wallaceburg.
Several teams participated in the race on the Sydenham River, and hundreds of spectators watched and cheered from the shore behind the Wallaceburg Legion, where the dragon boat organizers were based.
The Sydenham Dragon Boat Festival is a fundraiser for both the Chatham-Kent United Way and the Breast Buddies Dragon Boat racing team, as well as for the Canadian Breast Cancer society.
“I picked the races to be started in Wallaceburg 18 years ago,” Brian Armitage, the founder and event coordinator, told the Sydenham Current.
“Dragon boat races came into Canada a long time ago. It’s been a tradition for thousands of years. Back about 30 years ago, a doctor from Vancouver, Dr. Mackenzie realized that upper body exercise was good for breast cancer survivors. When you have a mastectomy they remove most of the lymphondes and this exercise helps to drain fluid in your arms, and improves muscles.”
Armitage said Dr. Mackenzie introduced this in British Columbia, and it has filtered through Canada and the United States.
“There are many different styles of Dragon Boat Racing like Hong Kong racing or Taiwan racing,” he said.
“At this race we use the Hong Kong racing style.”
Armitage said he had personal reasons to start the event 18 years ago as well.
“My wife is a breast cancer survivor and I work for United way, organizing other events,” he said.
Armitage added that the Dragon Boat Festival was originally started in 2001 as a fall festival, but was postponed out of respect for the victims, families, and first responders in the 911 terrorist attack in New York City.
The event was rescheduled for spring 2002, resulting in this year being the 18th year for the festival.
Armitage said the conditions started out perfect for this fun-filled event.
However, conditions quickly changed as storms rolled into the area.
“The race was called in the third round due to the storm,” he said.
Armitage said once the scores have been relayed to teams, they will be released on the Sydenham Challenge Website.
Here are some photos from the event:
