ADFA Girls Selected for the Australian Dragon Boat Crew

17 July 2008

Six ADFA girls have been selected to wear the green and gold jersey in the Australian Women's Crew at the Eighth Asian Dragon Boat Championships in Penang, Malaysia.

Midshipman Amy Hyatt (RAN), Midshipman Katie Kruger (RAN), Officer Cadet Anneka Hughes (Army), Officer Cadet Hayley Fletcher (Army), Officer Cadet Alyssa Burnham (RAAF) and Officer Cadet Stephanie Martis (RAAF) depart this week and will compete in the Championships from 28 July to 3 August. The girls will be pitted against crews from countries including China, Indonesia, Iran and India.

The girls were invited to compete in trials for the Australian Women’s Crew after winning gold at the National Championships in Perth in April as part of the ACT State Representative crew.

OFFCDT Stephanie Martis, who captains the ADFA Women’s Crew, says “as well as demonstrating our skills in the boat, we went through intensive trialling which tested our strength and endurance”.  

“We have spent the last couple of months training intensively with the rest of the Australian Women’s Crew on Lake Burley Griffin, braving Canberra's harsh winter to build up our abilities and prepare us for the competition ahead.

“The Men's And Mixed Crews will be made up of paddlers form the NSW area and will be joining us in Penang”.

OFFCDT Martis says, “The ADFA girls’ experience at dragon boating ranges from six months to two years, as we formed the relatively new ADFA Dragon Boat Club in 2006”.

“Since then we have had a lot of success as the ADFA Women's Crew, and have snagged more than a few state trophies in the last two years.

“Dragon Boating is a relatively small sport in Australia but its numbers and reputation are growing every year with leagues in every major city and an annual National Championship Regatta.

“We are all very excited about representing our nation in the sporting arena and can't wait to see what the other crews have got”.

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