Saturday 14th March was Canberra Regatta (Western Region squad training day)

3 Parkes Dragon Boat Club members will compete at the AUSCHAMPS 2026 event in April on the Sunshine Coast:

David Pelchen, David Potts and Linda Snyman have been training with team mates from across the Western Region of NSW, from Narrabri, Dubbo, Bathurst, Orange, Forbes and Wagga Wagga.

Training in March included a regatta in Canberra where they competed in 2km and 200m races.

Linda Snyman said “I’m very proud to represent my region of the state at AUSCHAMPS, and have also been nominated as Captain of the women’s side. I have made so many wonderful friends over the years through dragon boating and it’s great to be able to compete alongside them in April on the Sunshine Coast.”

Dragon boating is a great way to get fit, have fun, make new friends, and paddle around the country. Are you keen to join the Parkes Endeavour Dragons? They meet at Lake Endeavor Saturdays at 2pm for a 2:30pm start on the water. But note Dragon Boating at Lake Endeavor is on hold till May due to council upgrades.

Forbes Dragon Boat Club recently competed at the Masters Games in Weston ACT. The 3-day event included 200m races and 1km turn races in both small and full boats. Forbes combined with four other clubs for this competition. Team Forge included paddlers from Forbes, Geelong Vic, Parkes, Adelaide Survivors abreast and Powerblades SA.

In November FDBC also competed in the Western Region Regatta this year held in Orange. Races included 10’s and 20’s crews over 200m and “a dash for cash “over 100m. We combined with Parkes and Blue mountains on that day.

Forbes Dragon Boat Club is offering a 4 week introduction to paddle plan, aimed at recruiting some new members. Dragon pass is a free program to trial dragon boating before joining a club.

We aim to run sessions on Sundays from 30th November until 21st December. Sessions will be for 30-40mins from 9am. It’s all about fitness, friendship and fun. There is no requirement to attend all sessions. You are also welcome to join our regular training sessions during the dragon pass period.

Paddles and life jackets are provided. All you need to bring is a bottle of water, a cap and closed in shoes.

So, if you have ever wondered about giving dragon boating a try – this is your chance. We challenge businesses, sporting teams, anyone looking for something new, who loves the water, to come along and give it a try. Minimum age 11 yrs.

Paddling with Forbes Dragons can be social or competitive – you decide on your level of participation.

For more information search Forbes Dragon Boat Club on Facebook and register to attend.

 

Another lovely Sunday morning, 10th September, on Lake Endeavour and another good session of paddling with some race practice added in. Strokes Damien and Chris set a good pace, with Linda exercising her coaching skills and all the crew keeping in time and doing a great job. Join us any Sunday morning. We’d love to welcome you into the boat!

The Parkes Dragon Boat Club will throw open their doors and welcome the community to come and try the sport of dragon boating for FREE on Sunday, 27th November. 

Over 50 Open Days across the state will be held from participating Dragon Boats NSW (DBNSW) clubs. 

Parkes President Bill Thomas says he is proud to open their doors and invite the local community to come and try the sport. “Dragon Boating is a great sport in which to be involved as it combines fitness and a sense of community. We are especially fortunate to be able to use the beautiful Lake Endeavour on which to do our training and we welcome everyone to come and have a try.” 

The Parkes Dragon Boat Club has operated in Parkes since 2018 and will open its doors to all community members as part of the event. 

Parkes Club Coach, Beth Thomas said: “We will be on the water from 10am and you can find us on Lake Endeavour Road, 28km out on the Orange Rd (Henry Parkes Way), and turn left for another 6km following The Dragon Boat Club signs. No special clothing is required but you should wear shoes that can get wet. We will supply all equipment.” 

Dragon Boats NSW Chief Executive Officer Tony Henderson says the state-wide Open Day is an important step in building the brand and profile of the sport of dragon

boating. “I invite the whole Parkes community to get out to Lake Endeavour and get amongst the atmosphere of this lively and inclusive sport. All ages, abilities and backgrounds are welcome, and the paddler pathway is to choose your own adventure. From social paddler to elite, you will find Parkes Dragon Boat Club will fit the bill.” 

The Forbes Dragon Boat Club did exceptionally well at the first Western Region Regatta in three years despite the flood preventing almost half of the team from participating.

Regatta coordinator Nicole Williams did a fantastic job to source some paddlers from other clubs to reach the minimum number to participate. This meant the Lachlan Dragons had fewer paddlers in the boat than most other teams, but still qualified for all the finals and came home with four podium spots.

There was great excitement for the return of this annual event and more than 18 teams totalling over 300 paddlers from the Central West, Sydney and the ACT competed at Lake Canobolas on Sunday in great weather.

The Forbes team had been training hard for the event, and the disappointment was huge for the members who could not make it across the floodwaters to participate. Club president and coach Chris Favell, who was also water locked, was devastated he could not be there, but very happy with his team’s performance in the field of strong competition. 

“A very proud coach moment,” he said. “All that hard work is showing in the results. Wish I could have been there!”

The Forbes women’s team had to compete as a Waratahs team combining with members from Tsunami in Sydney, Bidgee Dragons from Wagga Wagga and one paddler from Parkes Dragon Boat Club. Having not paddled together before, the team qualified for the final after two heats, and clinched second spot in the 200m with 62.4 seconds after Colour City from Orange (61.13) and Ryde Dragon Boat Club from Sydney in third place (62.43).

The Forbes mixed team with only 16 paddlers instead of 20, came second in the 200m final (56.79) after Ryde (52.9) and Outback Dragons from Dubbo in third place (57.15).

The Forbes men’s team, with only eight paddlers instead of 10, came third in the 200m final (59.04) after Ryde in first place (53.01) and Outback Dragons second (54.54).

The Dash for Cash race is a very fast sprint over 100m, and once again the Forbes team clinched second place in 29.65 after Ryde (28.43) and Outback Dragons (30.54).

The mixed team and Dash for Cash team included a paddler each from Sydney and Canberra to bring the number to the required minimum of 16.

It was a great day for the team to get their minds off the flood devastation back home, and to give the members who had to stay behind some good news! 

By Maggi Barnard 

After months of waiting the big moment arrived for the Forbes Dragon Boat Club (FDBC) when its new 20s boat was delivered last week.

A group of excited members were up early and waiting at the club’s shed at Lake Forbes on the big day. They all agreed the boat looked fantastic.

“It is just great to take possession of the new boat. It is so exciting,” said club president Chris Favell.

Chris gave credit to the committee who had put in a lot of hard work to raise enough funds for the new boat. “There were some brilliant ideas to help us raise the funds, and it was great to see the business community get involved in helping to provide the funds for it.”

Apart from running a very successful raffle draw, and other fundraising efforts, Forbes Dragon Boat Club approached local businesses to sponsor a seat in the boat, with all the seats sold.

It was a long wait to get the boat as it was built on order in China and then had to be transported to Australia and then to Forbes.

Chris said the new boat was a great addition to the club and sporting facilities in Forbes. “I think everybody understands how important it is for people of all ages to be involved in sport and to increase their fitness and their health. This is great for Forbes.”

The next step is to find a name for the boat, and FDBC members have been asked to submit suggestions around a community-based name. The club is also planning a sponsor’s paddle on Sunday, 20th November.

The FDBC paddles every Sunday at 8:15am, and on Thursdays at 6pm on Lake Forbes. Meet at the shed next to the bowling club. New members are always welcome.