Five Parkes paddlers came home with a silver medal from the Australian National Dragon Boat Championships in Canberra over Easter.

Warren and Donna Edwards, Rochelle Smith, Linda Snyman and Maggi Barnard are members of the Parkes Dragon Boat Club (PDBC) and were selected to represent Western NSW at the Nationals where more than 3,000 paddlers competed over six days at Weston Park in Canberra.

The Western team competed on Day four in the state vs state competition and came second in the 500m race in a time of 2.09.73. Victoria won the race in 2.08.91 and NSW North Coast was third in 2.10.74.

PDBC President Bill Thomas said it was a mighty effort from the Western mixed team. “Well done to the ‘Fab Five’ in representing PDBC. All members are certainly proud of your achievements!”

Linda Snyman, who was in the State team for the first time, said: “I was so proud to be representing Western NSW – winning the medal was an added bonus and made the months of hard training, both on and off the water, worthwhile.”

First time Western coach Louise Linke from Bathurst was overjoyed with her team’s success. ”You improved your time from the heat and came second in the final. Fantastic job – you are the second best mixed regional team in Australia!”

Both the opens (men) and women’s teams also made it to the finals of the 500m races, which were both very closely contested. The opens team improved on their heat time and came fourth. The Women had a tough ‘gig’ racing in two heats before the final. In the final the last four teams only had 0.30 difference between them with the NSW Western team in sixth place.

The Western squad consisted of members of six other clubs in the Central West from Dubbo, Forbes, Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow and Wagga Wagga.

The PDBC will be celebrating its first anniversary on Sunday, 26th May with a Come and Try Paddling day from 11am to 3pm at Lake Endeavour. Everyone is invited to enjoy the sunshine at the lake and a barbeque. For more information contact 0418 253 045.