By
CMDR Brendan Byrne and CAPT Helen Lambe
The
HMAS Cerberus Dragon Boat Team recently competed at the Australian
Corporate Games, held at Docklands in Melbourne.
Each team entered in the competition faced three 250m races in
their pool, with the winners from each pool going through to semi-finals
and finals.
The HMAS Cerberus team won all three of its pool races by over
two boat-lengths, with steadily improving times that hovered around
the 57 second mark.
The best time of the nearest competitor was 61 seconds.
The RAN team then won its semi-final by nearly two boat-lengths,
with a time of 57 seconds against increasing head winds.
The final was a closer affair, but the Cerberus paddlers still
prevailed, with another 58.18 second run in strong headwinds.
The Navy convincingly beat the fancied Holden and Esso-Mobil teams
by more than a boat-length. With no other team breaking the minute
barrier throughout the day, the Cerberus paddlers amply demonstrated
to their corporate counterparts what the Navy is able to achieve
through its focus on fitness, teamwork and camaraderie.
The Cerberus team proved themselves deserving champions and fine
ambassadors for the Navy’s premier training establishment.
The victory was also a fitting result for retiring team captain
, CPL Rick Lambe, and retiring team manager, CAPT Helen Lambe.
They have been outstanding contributors to the team, and will
be sorely missed when they return to the ‘green machine’ in 2005.
The team wishes to thank its major sponsor, the RAN Central Canteen
Fund, for their continued and generous backing.
The team is also very appreciative of the support provided by
the CO and XO of HMAS Cerberus, and the staff of the various schools
and faculties.
