(L-R) Part of the men and women's AFHQ dragon boat crews 2002 - Denee Gillin, Dianne Graham, SQNLDR Wilma Tennant, SQNLDR Sue McCready, Nannette Holliday, WOFF Nick Bandy, SQNLDR Ken Thomas, SQNLDR Barry Gleeson, WOFF Paul Hoffman, SQNLDR Kevin Barrington, David Graham, AVM Chris Spence and WGCDR Graeme Davies.

Lake Burley Griffin was left muddy and churned, as the 2002 Canberra Festival Dragon Boat Regatta was recently held in conjunction with the National Capital birthday celebrations.

Air Force Headquarters was favorably represented as the AFHQ Centurions and Centuriette Dragon Boat crews took up their paddles and beat the drum.

Deputy Chief, Air Vice-Marshal Chris Spence led from the front, including Air Commodore Graeme Bentley; Scientific Advisor David Graham; Group Captain Loch Mitchell; and 14-more gung-ho paddlers to form the dominant force.

Again the alpha males were steered to a second successive win in the open social category by event organiser PTI Warrant Officer Nick Bandy. According to WOFF Bandy, every crew member of the men's team to partake in the 2001 dragon boat competition, were first in line this season.

For the first time, the women struck a blow for themselves and Headquarters. With a limited training schedule, the Centuriettes demonstrated personal resolve to achieve third place in the social female category of the regatta.

'That's the beauty of an event like this; we need to encourage and foster participation, you don't have to be the best at anything, just come along and have a go,' WOFF Bandy said. 'If that has a positive effect on your lifestyle, the benefits are multiple.'

The boat, an Air Force sponsored 12-metre canoe, was configured with 10 to 20 paddlers, a sweep to steer and drummer, keeping time.

Dragon boating is not a natural motion, as those with experience rowing understand - the aim is to keep the paddle high, a horizontal line of sight and attempt to stay in time with the person far most forward. The more drilled a team, the better the outcome, and while it may sound easy enough, this is far from the truth.

The effort on 16 March was further compounded, as conditions deteriorated from a glass-like surface into windy and choppy lake detail, with the heats and final very nearly called off.

With three heats to fine tune form, the women took advantage of run and reduced a 1:56 heat, to a 1:50 final. The men similarly shaved precious seconds and won in the final time of 1:25.

Air Force hopes Army and Navy will be encouraged to take up the challenge in 2003.

In the meantime, ACT Cancer Council has conducted Relay for Life, from 6pm on 5 April for 24 hours.

Proceeds from the family event go to cancer research and with WOFF Bandy on the case, the occasion is sure to meet expectations.

Story and photograph by Amber McKinnon