Last year, Stockton was our first BDA event of the season and it was one of the highlights of last year. This season we had a few bad events leading up to Stockton and were wondering if we could redeem ourselves…

BDA number 5, after an agonizing 5 hours or shall I say 8 hours drive for the mini bus group, we finally made it to Stockton. Somehow the Harrow lot managed to miss all the service stations so they made it to Travelodge without any food. Luckily, the receptionist behind the counter pointed them in the right direction. That was definitely the tastiest burger/kebab Yong had, that weekend! The minibus was devastated (well Dhana was) when we saw that the KFC was closed so we ended up raiding the cold pasta and sandwiches at marks & sparks and WH Smithy, note to self, hungry tigers = angry tigers.

Last year, Stockton was our first BDA event of the season and it was one of the highlights of last year. This season we had a few bad events leading up to Stockton and were wondering if we could redeem ourselves…

We started to set up camp with our brand new Typhoon banner which was given to us by SeeWoo, our sponsors. Capt Liu called us in for a team meeting. This time the team talk was very different to all the previous events. We didn’t have the team talk minutes before we were due on the boat, we had our team talk in the Typhoon camp where we were relaxed and comfortable long before our first race.

Capt Liu said: “We need to take the focus away from winning and losing and who we can and cannot beat. We need to work together and give our best performance as a team and I will guarantee the results will follow. Today is about us! Today, is about how well we can work together as a team!”

With that in mind, everyone’s attitude changed. We felt less stressed and more relaxed and were able to focus on ourselves and what we came 8 hours north to do.

We entered the race with a new line up, with Kalai and Phan making their debut as TT pacers. Capt had decided to send the chunky monkeys back to the middle of the boat leaving the technically and rhythmically able paddles to sit in the front four seats – Kalai, Phan, Kin and Ping, along with moving Sam and Ed up to 3^rd Row.

200m Heat
After the warm up, we headed down to the pontoon ready to load up in Three Rivers pool boat. All teams were ready at the start line, we were down and ready all waiting for the start call. We grunted and pushed off the start line…. It was a battle to the finish, each team not giving one another any quarters, but on our boat we wasn’t able to get the long reach required as the seats were too close together, we ended up coming 2^nd in the race…

Even though we were 2 seconds behind RD we remained unfazed. We knew the team had more to offer.

Raging Dragons: 1.20.57, Typhoon Tigers: 1.22.39, Pool of Life: 1.44.73

200m Semis
Having qualified as fastest losers, we skipped the reps and were up against RD again but that didn’t matter. We knew where we went wrong in the previous race and were prepared in this race.

The start was called and we were off. We had a powerful start which gave us a slight lead from the other teams. RD kept gaining on us but we maintained the power and stroke. We listened to the finish call and all responded. Since the line was skewed, it was hard to tell if we had won, even though we were ahead… To our relief, we found out that we made it and to our first 200m Major Final of the year!!!

Typhoon Tigers: 1.19.95, Raging Dragons: 1.20.80, Cool Running: 1.21.54

200m Final
The major final saw us against Amathus and Bristol Empires, we wasn’t content with 3^rd place and was determined to prove why we are still a force to be reckonned with. After a massive start, we all headed down the course powerfully and strong… Bristols were looking strong! Amathus was in a league of their own, we had to be strong and focus… Once again we crossed the finishing line, it was too close to call… Once again we had to wait for the results as it was hard to see who was 2^nd unless you were on the finishing line.

Amathus DBC: 1.15.32, Typhoon Tigers: 1.17.70, Bristol Empire: 1.17.92

We'd done it!!! Even though there was just a fraction of a second in it, we had 2^nd place! Our biggest achievement at 200m this year!!!

After an exciting 200m race Kalai and Dhana decided to entertain the team with their floor show and spelling abilities (although Kalai did just lay there like a beached whale while Dhana did the running around).

500m Heats
After a blistering 200m Major final, we were ready and raring to score maximum points in the 500m. We didn’t know what to expect from Three Rivers, we knew that we couldn’t take it easy… we had to win it or come as one of the two fastest losers to make it into the Cup Competition.

As expected, the 200m wasn’t 200m at all!!! It was more of a 300m, as the 500m mark wasn’t too far from where we started at the 200m. We knew it was just a little bit further and prepared ourselves mentally, a slap on the back was passed down from the back of the boat and we were ready to race.

We were off!!! A fast blinding start, with calls made within the boat by JC, the power was there, the determination was there, we crossed the finishing line by over a boat length ahead of 3 Rivers… there was no question of who'd won this race.

Typhoon Tigers: 2.13.32, 3 Rivers Serpents: 2.17.13, Pool of Life: 2.53.42

500m Semi Final - The London Showdown
This race is one for the scrapbook. Our first ever London showdown race. The three London teams that train in the same waters were going to battle it out for a place in the major finals. We had to either win it or come as fastest loser to make it for a place in the Major Final, we wanted to win it! We started off strong and powerful, responding to all the calls made within the boat. With the team locked in we surged through the water and accelerated to the finish line with 6 seconds between us and the next boat.

Typhoon Tigers: 2.08.42, Raging Dragon: 2.14.45, Thames Taniwhas: 2.18.02

500m Final
Once again, we were ecstatic that we'd made it to the Major Final for the 500m and 200m!!! Probably our best results so far of the BDA 2008 season. Once again it was a similar lineup to the 200m Finals: Amathus, Bristol Empires and Us…

Once again we were off like a shot, Mick our helm decided to set a crash course towards Amathus, but they started to pull away… it was a battle between us and Bristol for 2^nd place, who wanted it more? Again with calm calls within the boat we powered through the waters as one and with our finish we knew we had it! Woo Hoo!!! 2^nd at 200m and 2^nd at 500m, what a result!!!

Amathus BDA: 2.02.07, Typhoon Tigers: 2.08.42, Bristol Empire: 2.09.29

Final Words

Stockton had proved to be our lucky charm once again. After a momentous day's racing we learnt that all the variation of drive down pressure paddling, power training and change of positions within the boat had all contributed to us paddling better as a team and our starts was back!!!

We could only look forwards to training more and together as a team for our next event in Nottingham!!!

Special thanks to:
Our new pacers upfront and taking on the challenge – Phan/Kalai, you did a fantastic job and we are always here to back you up.

To our good friends, Secklow for use of their boat and all the helms that we borrowed for our races.

Meme/JC for paddling/helming for the other teams.

Kin/Adrian for giving up their time to paddle with us. It’s good to have the old Typhoons back and brilliant support from Kin for our first-time pacers.

All the drivers for getting us there in one piece – especially Jez for remembering to take off the hand brakes, but did forget to turn his lights on and getting lost around roundabouts…

Phan for organizing travel and accommodation.

Carol for cheering us on in the final and keeping Waihung and Jez awake during the long journey home.

And finally everyone who paddled and gave up their weekend for the Team.

Written by Yong Sum Lam and Dhana Narayanan