Dragon Boats Set to Take Over Pittock

Friday, August 5th, 2016 8:00am

The Woodstock Rotary Club is getting ready for their 19th annual Dragon Boat Festival.

WOODSTOCK - Lots of dragon boats are expected to hit the water at the Pittock Conservation Area this weekend for the annual Dragon Boat Festival. This will be the 19th time the Woodstock Rotary Club has hosted this event.

Club member Dave Harris tells us more about dragon boat racing.

"A dragon boat basically is a large canoe; it will hold 20 paddlers, the steer person and the drummer in the boat as well. The festival format is a straight 500 metre race course with four lanes so we race the teams head to head."

Harris adds the final race is always the most exciting race to witness.

"The final race of the day is a 2,000 metre race. This race is an actual race where we take the fastest eight teams and race them head to head. They lap the course twice so they actually have to turn at the end of the course and turn back again to the finish line."

Last year event managed to raise $23,000 with more than 48 teams participating. This year the Woodstock Rotary Club is hoping to raise $20,000. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority has a special spectator fee of $10 per car until 4pm on Saturday for The Pharmasave Woodstock Rotary Dragon Boat Festival.

Click here for more information about the Dragon Boat Festival.

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