Singapore River Regatta 2008

alright alright. here's my update on the race. no photos though. another time maybe? =]

Day 1 - 22nd November 2008
two heats, two lane 2s. morale was already high on that day. we really worked together as a team, and frankly speaking, i've never been in a boat with such a great team spirit. of course, we overcame the crappy LANE 2, and emerged first in both heats. first, but not the best among all teams. so we decided, we'll do better the next day!

Day 2 - 23rd November 2008
one semi-final and two finals for me. the intensity from Day 1 increased as it was brought over to the 2nd and final day of competition. anxiety level got high, there was nervousness among the team, but we didn't let it affect our performance. once again, we cleared every single set, finishing in first position for all. Lane 3, Lane 2 and even Lane 1, nothing stopped us from believing in ourselves. for the benefit of those who don't know what's the difference, Lane 1 is deemed the one with the heaviest water, because of the shallow waters. thus, more effort is required to make the boat move.

getting back, winning the Tertiary Finals really made us high. crossing the finish line, i turned and look at Jason, he was overjoyed, so much so that he cried. i was happy too, my first medal in five months (excluding 10km challenge), since Singapore Dragon Boat Festival, the triple POL-ITE sweep that we had. it boosted our morale as we cheered when we got back to 'camp'. we were high, we were ready for the National Championships 3 hours later.

3 hours passed like 3 minutes. i did a visualisation set, after their warm up, with Team B before they went down for their minor finals. i could feel it, they want it really badly too, even though it wasn't the grand finals. during the visualisation, i made the scenario that they've won, they had to feel happy, they had to feel the sense of satisfaction crossing the finish line, FIRST. one man showed his emotions, he even cried, stating, 'the feel of winning is so great, i really want to feel it', when i asked him why he cried. these people from Team B motivated me to want to win for Team A, my team.

it was now time for us to warm up, time to talk through, time to motivate each other, time to psyche up. we did everything, we took alot of time doing so, but everything was worth it.

Team B had already set off by the time we were at the holding area, but we saw them under the bridge at the starting line. how can i forget, as we were paddling towards them, i could feel the unity as we echoed, 'STROKE BY STROKE, STROKE, STROKE, STROKE BY STROKE', together as a boat. when we saw Team B, we cheered for them, they cheered for us. the team spirit was there, a whole RPDB team spirit. because there was a delay Team B went to paddle a little more, to avoid cooling down their bodies, and minds. we saw them again as they were paddling and we were resting, and echoed again, 'STROKE BY STROKE, STROKE, STROKE, STROKE BY STROKE'. we were in different boats, but our minds belonged to the same team, RPDB.

Team B had to gather eventually. as their race started, i though to myself, those people, they are the future of RPDB. i really wished them the best for the Minor Finals. i wanted them to get first place. although my wish didn't come true, and they got 4th, i was proud, proud of them, for being better than my batch, who went into only the Plate Finals last year.

directing my focus back to Team A, i had to prepare myself, anxiety level was increasing as we were at the start line, in Lane 1, where all the photographers are just on my right, on the steps. i calmed myself down. i needed optimum performance. 'i can do it, i can do it. i want the gold, i want to WIN', that's what i was telling myself in my mind. by then, the boats were almost all aligned.

starter - 'ALL BOATS HOLD WATER!'
RP Team A - 'RP FOCUS!'
RP Team A - 'ANYTIME ANYTIME!'
starter - 'ARE YOU READY?!'
all teams - 'UP!'
starter - 'ATTENTION!'
starter - '*BLAST OF AIR-HORN*'

the race has began, National Chamopionship Grand Finals (Men). the whole set from start to end, i never thought of fatigue, i thought of winning. initally, we were lagging behind the other teams as i can see with my head tilting left as i paddled. but at the charging, i paddled my guts out. boom boom boom, i could see the number '2' on the other boat moving back, and back, and back, till it's almost aligned. i wanted to bloody win, and i could feel the satisfaction, eating up the other boats. as we passed the finish line, i was sure we got the gold as i saw the other boats slightly behind us. but i didn't want to celebrate too early because i may be wrong, so i waited for the results on shore.

hearing that KwokYong went unconscious and fell off the boat, i was anxious and worried. rushed and rushed, then found out that he was alright.

when the results were out, Steve confirmed with us that we were first, we got high once again! we started hugging each other as we celebrated. the greatest celebration came after we got the medals, and we were back in 'camp'.

we cheered as a whole RPDB. we shook UOB Plaza. the other teams could only stare. we are Quad-Champs! 4 gold medals, something never accomplished by any teams paddling in the main events. i felt like i was on estacy! so happy, feeling the sense of satisfaction, feeling the HYPE.

Singapore River Regatta 2008 was a great race, the greatest i've ever been in.
it was a race for Steve, because he's it's his last with RPDB, beacuse he brought us to where we are.
it was a race for Jin Dian, because of his contributions as an assistant coach, because it signalled a start for him as the new head coach of RPDB.
it was for the Year 3s, because it was their last.
it was for Team A, because we really wanted it more than any other team, because we finally knew what team spirit is.
it was for Team B, because they've trained really hard, because they showed what team spirit can do.
it was for the girls, because it's time for them to step up to the National Team.
it was for RPDB, because we want to build a legacy, because we know we can.