The Sproat Ness Dragons celebrate a bronze medal in the diamond division at the Nanaimo dragon boat festival July 6–8. This is the team’s highest achievement—so far. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Sproat Ness Dragons celebrate a bronze medal in the diamond division at the Nanaimo dragon boat festival July 6–8. This is the team’s highest achievement—so far. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Sproat Ness Dragons win dragon boat bronze in Nanaimo

First year for Port Alberni dragon boating team

  • Jul. 17, 2018 12:00 a.m.

The Sproat Ness Dragons earned bronze medals in the diamond division at the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival July 6–8.

It’s the highest achievement for the team so far this season, with festivals in Comox and their home festival at Sproat Lake in September still to come.

The Dragons finished third in their final race with a time of 2:30.713 minutes, less than nine seconds away from first-place winners, Snappin’ Dragons.

Port Alberni’s ladies’ team finished 11th out of 36 teams from as far away as Calgary and Oregon.

Six paddlers from the West Coast Warriors in Port Hardy joined Port Alberni’s team to help fill the boat.

The Sproat Ness Dragons only started competing together as a team this year; they finished fourth overall at the opening festival on Sproat Lake in early June.

The mid-Island masters, which includes several Port Alberni paddlers, finished with a gold in the jade division.

Alberni Valley News