BEI LOON DRAGON BOAT CLUB

Just a reminder that at Regattas once we have boarded the boat and are seated, there is to be no talking. Everyone should be focused and listening to the Sweep’s calls. The only other voice in the boat should be the Captain and the Drummer who relays calls from the Sweep and Captain.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Great results from the Lunar New Year Regatta on Saturday 28th February, 2026. The Club had crews entered in, Senior A Mixed Blue and Green, Senior B Mixed, Senior A Women, Senior B Women, Senior B Open (Men). The Pinks Crew raced on Sunday.

All Crews did well in the heats, many winning them convincingly by large distances. The Club returned home with plenty of Bling with the Senior B Mixed placing second, Senior B Women placing first in a convincing win leading all the way and the Men coming from behind, surging to just win at the finish. This was the first Regatta the Open Crew had a full men’s boat, beating an established combination crew also with 20 men. The Pinks also had a great result placing second on Sunday.

Well done to all crews, medal presentations to follow.

We have a busy schedule coming up, with our 8km Scotland Island Race next weekend. The State Championships at the end of the month and the Nationals on the Sunshine Coast in late April. The team for the Nationals will be announced this week.

SWIM TESTS – STEVE MCKEOGH

By now nearly all paddlers have successfully completed their 50m swim tests.  Thank you everyone for making the effort to do this, it is important to be sure that our paddlers are safe in the event of an incident on the water, however unlikely it may be.  Any paddlers who do not complete the 50m swim test will be asked to wear a PFD while paddling, and sweeps will be expected to enforce this rule.

While the swim test assures us that each paddler is able to look after themself in the event of a capsize or other incident, it is important to remember that this is the bare minimum requirement for safety.  If something has gone wrong, it is likely that paddlers will need to assist with recovering the boat and possibly assisting anyone who may have been injured.  Likely activities required might include turning over a capsized boat, recovering paddles and other equipment, swimming with a swamped boat, re-boarding, bailing, and assisting others to re-board the boat.  If you are not confident in being able to assist with these activities, please consider wearing a PFD when paddling.

Finally, don't forget that the ability to swim is based on the clothing that you are wearing at the time.  Additional clothing may impact your ability to swim and to look after yourself and others in the water.  Even if you do not need a PFD when wearing light clothing, please consider wearing one when you add layers during cold or wet weather.

Let's stay safe together on the water!  

TEAM APP – REMINDER

We are getting large numbers to our training sessions which is fantastic. However, could you please remember: -

1. Put your name down if you are attending
2. If you put your name down in advance and not able to make the session, please remember to take it off.
3. IF YOU SAY NO TO A SESSION, WE DON’T NEED TO KNOW THE REASON YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING. THE COMMENT SECTION IS FOR TRAINING INFORMATION E.G. CANCELLATION OR SWEEP INFORMATION OR BRINGING AN EXTRA PADDLER.

This really helps with allocating sweeps and knowing how many boats will be needed.

Also PLEASE REMEMBER to get to training 15 minutes before the start time so that we have time for a warm up and getting boats in the water. _ Thanks

8KM RACE

Our 8km Race around Scotland Island is this Saturday and George has done a fantastic job again organising it all. There are 23 teams attending which is a credit to George that this event has become so popular with all the other Clubs.

Please put your name down on the roster that Kathy has put out via email to help with the BBQ, serving food, making cakes etc as there will be a lot of paddlers to feed and water. 

BAREFOOT BOWLS REPORT – Kathy Robinson

It was another great turnout on Saturday 28 Feb for the Annual Barefoot Bowls event. Thank you once again to George for co-ordinating all 42 Bowlers on 7 Rinks with a 4 Game competition!

As expected, competition was fierce and many team captains took on the role with great gusto providing enthusiastic guidance and coaching to novices or anyone else who would listen.  With a practice bowl (or two) to get the hang of it a sweaty and intense competition began. George and his clipboard were kept busy for the duration and he was overheard to mention something about 'cats'?!

With a dark and stormy sky looming all bowling was able to be completed with only a hint of lightning on the far-off horizon and a few spots of rain.

It was then time to relax inside the club with a great spread of Chicken and salads. Special thanks to Sal O, Fran O and Doreen for providing some homemade goodness. It was a great afternoon and the rest of team including myself and Andrea W were pleased with the results.  Sal O's salad was so popular we have added her recipe.

Well done to the winning teams of this most coveted award:

1st:      Team N - Arthur P, Annie Knoke, Jakki Tobin.

2nd:     Team D - Sally O, Sophia Brown, Chris Brown.

3rd:      Team I - Neil J, Sheryl L, Barabara Hardcastle.

Thank you all again and see you next year.

UPCOMING SOCIAL EVENTS:

12th April, 2026 – Last BBQ and Nationals Send Off

23rd May, 2026 – End of Season Dinner – Pittwater RSL

Please reply on Team App for these events so that catering can be organised

GRAIN SALAD RECIPE – SALLY OWEN

1 cup quinoa

½ cup puy lentils

2 tablespoons pepitas or pine nuts

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons slivered almonds

2 tablespoons baby capers (optional)

½ cup currants

½ red onion, finely diced

1 bunch coriander, chopped

½ bunch parsley, chopped

1 x pomegranate, arils only with pit completely removed

Dressing:

¼ cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic minced

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (optional – high in B12, cheesy flavour Vegan)

1 teaspoon oregano (dried)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

Method: -

Rinse quinoa then drain. Add to a saucepan with 1 cup of water and bring to boil. Cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from the heat. Stand for 10minutes then fluff with a fork and allow to cool (Or cook quinoa using microwave for 10 minutes after rinsing/draining)

Rinse the lentils, add to a pot with 2 cups of water and bring to the boil. Simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes until cooked. Then drain, rinse, drain again and allow to cool.

Heat a small frypan to medium heat and add the pepitas, sunflower seeds and slivered almonds. Toast gently, moving them around to make sure they don’t burn, then transfer to a large bowl to cool.

Add capers, currants, red onion, quinoa and lentils. Stir through the chopped coriander and parsley.

In a glass jar, combine the dressing ingredients shake to emulsify the dressing. Stir through the dressing into the salad.

Place salad on serving dish, sprinkle pomegranates on top.

Additional dressing to top the salad if desired:

1 cup thick Greek yoghurt

1 tsp cumin seeds toasted and ground

1 tablespoon honey

NOTE
Swap quinoa for Freekeh if you want a wheat salad.

We paddled to McCarrs Creek last Sunday at training, thought this was a happy photo to finish off the newsletter.