Club Crew World Championships 2010, Macau

went up to Macau for the 7th CCWC, where the strongest dragon boat clubs meet up and compete with each other for the title of World Champions.

SAFSA participated in the U23 category, facing 3 teams from Canada and 1 team each from Macau and Hong Kong. these opponents, though unheard of in Singapore, were no push overs as they tried time and time again to beat SAFSA. successfully, we managed to secure not only podium standings for all events, which are 2000m, 200m and 500m, but 1st placing for everything.

i'm proud to have paddled for SAFSA in the 200m and 500m races. it was an honour to be with such a strong team with such dedicated and passionate paddlers.

the end of CCWC marks my first 2 Golds with SAFSA.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

SDBF 2010

my very first race for SAFSA. high expectations, rather high confidence.

our greatest nemesis were Mountbatten. we knew it would be a tough fight. but we thought we could retain the title. despite the effort, desire, we failed to secure a Gold, and had to settle for Silver.

are we really lesser than them? does having that many Nteam paddlers make a difference? why is it a club team overseas beat intimidating, results producing national teams then? we were good, but they were better.

this feeling sucks. i'll remember it, take it, and shove it up my next opponent's ass.

I will not settle for a Silver. the next SDBF, WATCH OUT.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

RPDB

i just finished my final race with RPDB on Sunday. MR 500 was really a blast. i was really disappointed that we didn't beat NTU for the Tertiary gold on Saturday(my very last chance to do so). but on Sunday, we managed to clinch third position for the Men's Open Grand Final, beating all other teams except the National Team and, yes, NTU. though we still lost to NTU, by an even closer margin than the day before, i was really contented because everyone achieved the team's common goal and put up a really good fight.

i would like to thank the team for the excellent ride on the boat for the Men's Grand Final and also for all their efforts in making the results possible. without each and everyone of you, none of that could have happened. continue to train hard, because the longer you stay in 'hell', the faster you'll reach 'heaven' to reap the benefits.

i also hereby express my gratitude to JD for his guidance to the team. a soft-spoken and humble coach that has brought the team to even greater heights, continuing the legacy Steve and himself created for the team since the start of RPDB.

i wish the team all the best. in future, we won't be teammates, but opponents. i still want to see the team rise, but i guarantee you, i will train even harder from now to beat you guys if we ever meet on the race course. no hard feelings though. =]





i leave you all with a few quotes that may help in motivating yourselves to train harder:

"success comes only if there's HARDWORK and SHEER DETERMINATION"

"one's attitude determines two possible results, SUCCESS or FAILURE"

"you CONSERVE, you LOSE"

Thoughts In My Mind

my final race for RPDB, MR 500, is coming this weekend and i know i should just focus on it. but there's so many thoughts, outside Dragon Boat, running through my head right now.

things are not looking good. i have a really bad feeling about something, just hope that i'm wrong.

imy, A LOT.

sigh.

June

2nd time bringing the trophy back.


many months of training, 4 competitions, 4 medals for myself, all in the month of June.

in the last 2 weekends, the whole team managed to grab a whole bunch of medals. for myself, i got 1 silver from SIWF, 1 gold from POL-ITE 2009, 1 silver for the Tertiary Mixed team and 1 bronze for the National Championship Men's, both from SDBF.

SIWF was my first and last with RP. the silver medal was in fact a gold and we know damn well why.

POL-ITE 2009 was my final one, and i'm glad i could defend the title with my team. it was RPDB's third consecutive win in the POL-ITE games since snatching it from TP. i paddled in 2 of the 3 POL-ITE races.

for SDBF, we swept the POL-ITE category races in Men's, Women's and Mixed last year. unfortunately, SDBA took that category off this year; in fact, 2008 was the only year the POL-ITE category was featured. but in 2009, RPDB made history. the bronze medal from the National Championship Men's was the first, since we started in 2005. that was the best bronze medal i've ever gotten in my life. in that event itself, it was also one of the best ever. the Tertiary Mixed silver medal was one of my very few Mixed team medals, and i'm glad to have paddled.

all the 3 competitions mentioned above are all my last with RPDB. the feeling in those competitions were great; almost replicable to SRR 2008. thanks to everyone who made it possible; my coach, my teammates, GOD.

MR500 2009

MR500 was a couple of weeks back - 28 & 29 of March.

these are the achievements by RPDB:

• Tertiary (Men) - Silver
• Open (Mixed) - Plate Final, Gold
• Tertiary (Women) - Gold

that's another 2 medals for me.

*pictures in Facebook*