‘Representing Canada’: London dragon boat club sends 20 athletes to World Championships in Germany

London's dragon boat club has sent 20 athletes to compete at the World Championships in Germany

Twenty athletes who train three times per week on Fanshawe Lake are in Germany preparing to compete for Canada at this week’s IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.

For the first time in the event’s 17-year history, they have a Breast Cancer Survivor division and London Rowbust has 10 members.

“It’s crazy to think that when we started Rowbust 26 years ago, that some of us would be representing Canada with Canada on our backs at a World Championship,” said Linda Kuska, a long-time Rowbust captain. “I just never, ever thought that that would ever happen in my competitive paddling career.”

Kuska must be one of the most fit 62 year olds in the Forest City. She’s a relentless paddler.

“Paddling for Canada means that you are representing, for me, every breast cancer survivor that survived,” said Kuska. “We’re always thinking of those who have not survived and have not had the opportunity to go on and do something more. Wearing Canada on your back and wearing and flying that Canadian flag is going to be it’ll be priceless. I’m sure there’ll be many tears over there.”

Leading the BCP division for Canada is Rowbust coach Cheryl McLachlan. She held a training camp on Fanshawe Lake with athletes trying out from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

“Sarah [Shelland] and I started this crusade in 2009, saying to the International community that these are athletes too, and they should have a division at the at the world level, representing nation against nation,” said McLachlan, who leads 100 London Dragon Boat Club (LDBC) athletes ever week on the water.

“I’ve been to the World’s quite a few times and Canada to me is the land of strong and free and the best country in the world,” said McLachlan, describing what it means to wear the Canadian logo. “I think back to my very first-time representing Canada, it brings tears to my eyes. It was in China and the sport there is like the NHL. When you look at your jersey and see Canada you cannot help but bring a tear to your eye or a choke.”

This is also the first time there has been a Para division, and the London PenDragons have four athletes.

“It’s my first World Championship as a paddler,” said Georgette Mink, a former Canadian Armed Forces Officer who competes in the Para Division.

The former standup paddle boarder moved to St. Thomas a few years back and made the transition to the Dragon Boat. She describes the LDBC as a “family.”

“I started three years ago as a new newbie in the boat and the biggest thing is just being coachable and listening to the coaching staff and the coaching here is outstanding. You can see the results, the amount of London Pendragon and London Rowbust that’s going to worlds out of our contingents. It speaks for itself,” Said Mink.

The LDBC has athletes in Germany competing in not only the Breast Cancer Survivor and Para Divisions but also Senior A, Senior B and U18.

“I love being on the water and it’s really just a great area at Fanshawe Lake,” said Jane Holman of the London PenDragons, who is competing in U18 in Germany. “I can come here after a long day and just practice and clear my mind. It’s really calm, and I have great coaches.”

Holman is a second-generation paddler. Her mother Christine, a breast cancer survivor is Rowbust member.

“I’ve grown up with Rowbust,” said Holman. “My mom joined about seven or eight years ago. They really helped bring me into this sport and they showed me lots of ways to deal with stress. Every time in the boat, think of her and think of what she’s done to get here.”

McLachlan said Dragon Boat Racing is the fastest growing sport in the world.

“Anybody can come on down here to Fanshawe Lake and we’ll throw you in the in the boat and teach you the paddle,” said McLachlan. “Then you get, you get hooked in on the race day at the London Festival that we have every June, and you can’t not get hooked.”

It’s what happened to many of these LDBC athletes, and now 20 of them are overseas ready to compete for Canada.