JDF Coast Guard, CBA top inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival

The inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival swept through the island at the weekend with big crowds descending on the Kingston Harbour in Port Royal to see the introduction of the newest sport to the country.

Teams from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard and the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) hunkered down in the specialised dragon-themed boats to dominate the event and take top honours, on Saturday and Sunday at the Grande Hotel Excelsior.

The JDF and CBA were given the same winning time, 1:04.257, while the Chinese Embassy ended the race on 1:05.660 after being loudly cheered on by a very animated audience that assembled on the hotel's dock and viewing gallery.

Johnny Wong, captain of the CBA team, said, "We hosted it; first time ever in Jamaica history, and I think we did very well. Next year we're going to do it better. The team feels great."

Tiran Maxwell, the JDF's captain, was equally elated at their success.

"We're excited that we were invited to be a part of the first ever competition. We prepared on Saturdays and Sundays over by Port Royal. We would have trained in the morning and we would have also put in the effort, put in the work. So we came out here, we had a team plan, we had a goal and we delivered on that goal," he said. "I'm very proud of my team."

There was also an international category and Jamaica were crowned Caribbean Dragon Boat race champions ahead of The Bahamas and Team Misfits, an invitational team with members from Canada, United States (US), China and Trinidad.

The sport Dragon Boat was established in Trinidad & Tobago some time ago and in The Bahamas for about four years now.

Eleven teams from 12 countries featured in the international segment. Each team had a minimum of 12 players, which included 10 paddlers, one drummer and a captain who steers the boat. The competition attracted competitors from the Bahamas Canada, China, Germany, The Philippines, Russia, Spain, Suriname, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, the US and host country Jamaica.

Some of the other teams that displayed their skills in the team category were UWI Confucius, McKay Security, CHEC Construction, Purity Bakery, General Foods and Hydra, with two teams.

Members of the public who came out to view the event were given an opportunity to experience the dragon boat race. That race saw four boat loads on the sea after a short orientation. Alan Beckford, general manager of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), welcomed the experience.

"I must congratulate the organisers of the Dragon Boat Festival. Wonderful event, so wonderful that they actually invited newcomers to do it and I was one who had that opportunity. So what it shows is a sport for everybody and the tourism potential of this sport is fantastic," Beckford said.

Race director Kerry Chow, of Canada, who is certified by the sport's governing body, the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), had high praises for the competitors and the Jamaican audience who embraced the sport.

"It's been amazing, the number of people who are enthusiastic about the sport they've never seen. The local people who actually came down, raced the race, brought their family, it was amazing."

"I actually expected a little bit less and you exceeded that by a mile. When we look at the overall result, the Jamaica CBA, the Chinese Benevolent Association and the coast guard are new, new to this sport but they were right there with the CBA team because it's their sport. It was amazing watching teams take on each other on the water, but coming off the water, the handshakes, the hugs and the friendship were amazing," opined Chow.

Chairman of the organising committee, Dalton Yap, was just as happy.

"It was thrilling, it was exhilarating. The races were just full of fun, very competitive and I'm very happy that this competition has come to such an exciting end. Jamaicans, thank you so much for turning out in droves," Yap said. "We love you. It shows that you have a passion for the sport, you have an understanding."