Tobago-based Oceanus dominated the Chinese Bicentennial Ltd 16th Annual Chinese Arrival Dragon Boat Festival premier division, which rowed off at Williams Bay, Chaguaramas on Saturday and Sunday.
In their four events, Oceanus won both the small and standard premier 200m open titles, and then topped the field once more in the premier 200m female and mixed events.
Small boats carry ten paddlers while the standard boats require 20 paddlers.
In the small boat, Oceanus crossed the finish line in 56.4 seconds and was followed by Excellent Stores Titans (57.7s) and Aquaholics (58.8s) respectively.
In the standard boat, Oceanus won in one minute and 32.20 seconds (1:32.20). Rowing to silver was Caciques in 1:52.80, ahead of Peeking Ducks in (1:54.60).
The Oceanus female team won their event by an almost five-second gap in 1:07.40. Excellent Stores Titans (1:12.30) placed second while third place went to Caciques (1:16.90).
Oceanus manager Georgina Peterkin told Newsday the team achieved their goals. She said, "What we were aiming for, we recently concluded the Pan American Dragon Boat in Panama, and our aim at this regatta was to beat the times that we did there – which we achieved."
She said the team trains approximately three times a week at Pigeon Point Heritage Park, but members do individual work almost everyday. She said this keeps them sharp and always ready to compete.
[caption id="attachment_1040472" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A team competes in the Ambassador's race heats at the Chinese Arrival Dragon Boat Festival, Williams Bay, Chaguaramas, Sunday. - Photo by Roger Jacob[/caption]
Aquaholics also did well to win their two premier 600m events. In the open race, Aquaholics paddled to glory in 6:58.25. They beat to the line runners-up Blue Bloods (7:27.63), bronze receivers Dragons of the Caribbean (7:35.02) and fourth place Trailblazers (8:00.81).
Aquaholics also copped the 600m mixed title in 7:21.66. Excellent Stores Titans (7:36.14), Hydro Warriors (8:2.69) and Peeking Ducks (8:40.27) rounded off the top four respectively.
Hillview College’s Hyperion also showed great teamwork and strength to claim four titles across the two-day meet. In their lone 600m test, in the U21 open category, Hillview were golden in 7:06.31.
They also emerged winners in the U21 200m open standard and small boat races. Their times were 1:36.50 (small boat) and 55.7s (standard). Hillview also partnered St Joseph's Convent, Port of Spain to win the U21 mixed small boat 200m race.
Hillview manager Damian Charrie said the team was on a mission in Chaguaramas. He said, "We came back from the Pan American club crew championships in Panama (in March) with four gold medals, but most of the team was sick after we returned home and the team was disappointed that we did not get to participate in the schools regatta that took place two weeks after our return.
"In this regatta we felt like we had a point to prove and show that we are indeed the best school team in the country, since we did not get that opportunity
