Typhoon battling it out on Bristol Empire Dragons Home Turf, alas it was not meant to be...

The Battle at Bristol

Drummer: Gigi
Helm: Richard
Photographer: Jo 'Rambo' Cheung

Crewlist:

Waihung Phan Andrew L Pete NG Sam C

Jeremy Thanh Dhana Nilesh Dan S

Yong Sum Ping Kalai JC Helen

Ed Don Dan Chin Andrew C Alan T

Race 1 – OPEN 200m HEATS:

Kingston Pretenders – Thames Raging Dragons – Typhoon Tigers – Amathus Bees

We got to Bristol early. The tent was being put up and morale within the team was high. We were going to blitz it all day!

After helping Batchworth with 'our' boat, we rested, waiting for the call... Finally the call came from Captain Liu, “Lets start warming up!!”. We found our spot from last year and carried out our usual Liu warm-up. The team talk.... keep it long... keep it strong. We knew what we had to do and we were prepared mentally to do this.

We headed up to the start line with our usual warm up paddling. 50%..... 75%.... 100% for ten strokes... the boat was feeling good. We all had a good feeling about this one.

Were were on the start line and there was no messing about. Our heads were in the boat, we were concentrating, not daring to look at the opposition waiting for our first start of the day.

“Crews down and ready!!!!” We went down as one unit... all heads facing forward... all paddles buried...

“GO!!!!” within a split second we were off.... the start felt good... it felt powerful, it felt strong and we were in front. We powered through the start, gaining more and more momentum, the end of the 3 10 start... 3.. 2... 1... REACH!!! we all did.... the boat was moving and we were in the lead.

I could see a boat next to us... don't worry about it... keep it long... keep going!!! The boat was moving closer... keep going I told myself and I'm sure everyone else on the left hand side were thinking the same... KEEP GOING!!! All of a sudden I hear Rage's helm shout something and then BANG! We hit Rage's boat! The drummer almost thrown off her seat, holding on for dear life with her legs The right hand side kept powering it through, a lot of the left side had no choice but to stop paddling, whenever we could paddle a few strokes we did but we weren't going anywhere. In the end both teams had to stop paddling, there was no getting away. You could see the disappointment on the faces of both teams paddlers. There was nothing that could be done.

We got to our usual mooring spot and I personally did not want to get out of the boat. We realised it had been our fault we crashed into RD. Not because of bad helming, no not at all, our helm is one of the best, but because of the course itself.

We were given a warning and were entered into the repêchage.

The warm down after this race was a very quiet one... a sense that the high morale we had at the start of the race was gone. Everyone battled hard... but did not get anything out of it. We were told to put this out of our head... lets concentrate on the next race. We did try....

Times: (Don't ask me how they got them....)
Kingston Pretenders: 50.11, Thames Raging Dragons: 51.22, Typhoon Tigers: 51.81, Amathus Bees: 52.17

 

Race 2 – Open 200m REPECHAGES:

Typhoon Tigers – Colenorton – Secklow Hundred

With literally no rest, we had our next race. Looking at the line up, this wasn't going to be an easy one. Colenorton looking strong and Secklow looking good. We had to win this one to be in with a chance to get into the finals.

We warmed up at our spot, had the team talk. We were told to put the last race behind us and concentrate on this race as if this was our last race. We as a team were ready. I watched us paddle up to the start again. The same drill, 50%, 70% and 100% for ten strokes. We practised our start. We looked good from the side.

On the start line, I could sense everyone on the boat wanting to win this one. The call was given to start... We shot off the line, from the side we looked good and held the lead throughout the race, with Colenorton slowly catching up. Needless to say we won that race.... and only just with four tenths of a second between us and Colenorton.

Times:
Typhoon Tigers: 47.52, Colenorton: 47.91, Secklow Hundred: 51.02

 

Race 3 – OPEN 200m SEMI's:

Cool Runnings – Amathus – Bristol Empire Dragons – Typhoon Tigers

After almost missing out getting into the Semis we were here. This wasn't going to be an easy race. We got off to a good start but it wasn't to be. Amathus and Bristol were both looking strong. We came in in 3^rd place. The 200m was not on our cards this time round.

After loosing out on any finals we could have raced, we were all disappointed. Andy L and JC had a little chat and took the decision to change the seating arrangements to help the team re-focus on why were here... lets forget about the 200m... its all bout the 500m now.....

Times:
Amathus: 46.39, Bristol Empire Dragons: 47.52, Typhoon Tigers: 48.47, Cool Runnings: 50.22

 

Race 4 – OPEN 500m Heats

ExeCalibre – Thames Raging Dragons – Typhoon Tigers – Pershore Phoenix

We were pumped, rested, relaxed and looking damn forward for our next race. We warmed up like usual, we had our usual team talk with Andrew announcing the changes and reminding us why we train hard. JC was now pacing.

We went up to the start. Progressing through our normal phases, hitting 100% and hitting it hard. We got to the start. We composed ourselves, slowed down our breathing and sat there concentrating. We moved into our starting position, anxiously waiting. Finally after what seemed like a lifetime, the officials began their announcements... “DOWN AND READY..... ATTENTION.... GOOOO!!!”. We leapt into action with our strongest start of the day... moving quicker and faster with every stroke. We got into length and all I could see was the paddle in front of me... “3... 2... 1... REACH!” called the helm, and with what seemed like a second wind, we took it up kept the power on and battled down to the end. With the top half of my body and legs hurting I heard the call for a finish. I knew everyone began to kick harder than before. I don't know where the finish was... I hoped it was soon.... Richard called us down after crossing the line, I looked up and saw we finished 1^st... WE WERE BACK!

During the warm down I could see everyone pumped. The warm down talk, Andrew spoke for all of as. He was proud of what we done just as everyone else was. BRING ON THE NEXT RACE!

Times:
Typhoon Tigers 1:54.33, Thames Raging Dragons: 1:55.41, ExeCalibre: 2:05.91

 

Race 5 – 500m CUP SEMI-FINALS

Colenorton – Kingston Royals – Typhoon Tigers

We were looking forward to this race after showing everyone we want BDA points. We were up against two teams who were looking very strong all day. Andrew reminded us of this during the team talk.

We padded up to the start in our usual way. There was a good feeling on the boat. We lined up on the start line. All eyes were in the boat. Looking at the back of the heads of the person in front (apart from the pacers...). Into the start position we went, controlling our breathing.... “Paddlers are you ready.... Attention” called the starter, we took a deep breath “GO!!!” exploded with everything!! I don't know how we started with Kingston next to us but this felt like our usual strong start. Into the reaches we went. I could see Kingston edging ahead.... “3... 2... 1... reach!!” called Richard, we gave it all we had to close the gap that was opening between us and Kingston. The call for finish was shouted. We pushed, reached and kicked harder. In the end we finished in 2^nd place. I'm glad there was a couple minutes before we moored. I knew I wouldn't be able to walk after that race.

We had to now wait for everyone else to race before we knew whether we were in the Major or Minor finals.... it was in the hands of the gods.

Times:
Kingston Royals: 1:52.36, Typhoon Tigers: 1:55.49, Colenorton: 2:01.79

 

Race 6 – 500m Minor Finals

Typhoon Tigers – Bristol Empire Dragons – Thames Raging Dragons – Thames Taniwhas

We got in to the minor finals. Up against some of the top teams. This was going to be the hardest race of the day. We all knew what was needed from us. This was the last race of the day and wanted to go out with a bang.

The warm up was tense. During the team talk, Andrew and JC reminded us that we had to give it our all. We went up to the start. This was it....

“Paddlers down and ready..... attention.... GO!!!!!!” we shot of. Grunts from around the boat as everyone dug in deep, buried the paddles and pulled back through the water to make sure we were in front. I think we were at one point. We paddled hard through the 10s and into length. I could feel the boat surging with every stroke... with every kick. I thought the last race hurt....that was nothing compared to this. All I could think of was BDA points.... I WANTED THEM. I know everyone else in the boat wanted them as well. I could hear the pain coming from people as the finish was called. We gave more, kicked more, reached more, twisted more and leant more.... we crossed the finish line and richard called the easy. I looked up straight away and though we finished 2^nd behind Bristol but that wasn't the case.

Apparently due to the layout of the course we came in at 4^th place. I was not pleased in the slightest. But there was nothing I could do. We all did our best, we all battled hard but it just wasn't meant to be.

Times:
Bristol Empire Dragons: 1:51.00, Thames Taniwhas: 1:51.72, Thames Raging Dragons: 1:51.97, Typhoon Tigers: 1:52.34

We lost the battle in Bristol, but the war is still on... BRING ON STOCKTON!

Many thanks to Bristol for hosting this event, to all the race officials, our drummer Gigi and her bruises, Richard and all the other teams racing!

Who are we... TY....

Written by Chewie