CDBCC News

Thursdays of Thunder - 2009 champions and runners-up

2009-09-19T13:58:00.002-04:00

On Thursday, the winners of the 2009 Thursdays of Thunder Masters sprint paddling series were recognized.
Men's OC-1
1st: Brian Saunderson
2nd: Ian Whitton
3rd: Doug Linton

Women's OC-1
1st: Christine Linton
2nd: Leslie Whitton
3rd: Kelly Dory

Men's K-1
1st: Mark Shouldice
2nd: Brian Saunderson
3rd: Ian Whitton

Women's K-1
1st: Kelly Dory
2nd: Christine Linton
3rd: Leslie Whitton

Men's C-1
1st: Brian Saunderson
2nd: Doug Linton
3rd: John Carswell

September notes...

2009-09-09T21:43:00.001-04:00

IN PRAGUE: Three members of the Collingwood Dragon Boat & Canoe Club returned to Canada last week loaded down with gold from the world dragon boat championships.Anne Baker, Christine Linton, and Leslie Whitton each earned four gold medals as members of the Canadian Senior Women's dragon boat team during the competition in Prague, which wrapped up last Sunday. The team won gold in the 2,000, 1,000, 200, and 500-metre races.Baker also earned a gold medal as a member of the Canadian Senior mixed crew which won gold in the 2,000-metre, and Linton won gold as a member of the Seniors' crew in the 200-metre competition.
This was the second trip to the world dragon boat championships for the three women; in 2007, they were part of the Canadian Senior Women's crew that headed to Sydney.
"The club is extremely proud and excited by the performances of Anne, Christine, and Leslie," said club president Brian Saunderson. "They were richly deserved, as we watched their hard work and preparation for this year's worlds."

IN SHERBROOKE: Six members of the club - Scoop, Brian Saunderson, Mark Shouldice, John Carswell, Nancy Moorcroft and Kelly Dory - headed to Quebec on the long weekend for the Canoe-Kayak Canada CanMas masters paddling competition. Club newcomer Mark Shouldice carried on the club's tradition of novice kayaking excellence, earning gold in the 35-44 age category, and bronze in the 25-34 age category. In the mixed K-4 event, Dory and Saunderson joined members of the Cascades to pick up a silver.
While I'm still waiting for final point totals, it's fair to say the Collingwood results were impressive given the small contingent of paddlers. More Collingwood results will be posted to the club's website in the coming days, along with pics...

IN COLLINGWOOD: The club's first ever WOD regatta, while sparsely attended, still can be regarded as a success. The club proved it had the 'clean' water and ability to set up a proper 500-metre, six-lane course, and the organizational capability to handle a larger event. The WOD representative who attended and acted as starter, Sandy Bell, generally had very good things to say about our regatta, and there were some good lessons learned by the organizing committee that can be put forward for next year.

THURSDAYS OF THUNDER: Thanks to everyone who came out and competed over the eight weeks. This year we had great conditions for the most part, and only one T of T needed to be postponed to another Thursday because of weather. The results have been tabulated using a complex mathematical formula, and the winners have been determined. Everyone is invited to the T of T season-ending barbecue, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. at the boathouse for the 'medal' presentations and the awarding of the official T of T trophies (right now on display on the awards shelf in the boathouse), as well as some socializing...

IN TORONTO: Good luck to the CDBCC Sidelaunchers, as they head down to Toronto this weekend to compete in the annual Great White North Dragon Boat Challenge. Just a note: on Saturday, CKC is holding its annual Mazda Knockout Challenge at Ontario Place - which will mean parking will be at a premium (as in very, very sparse) at Ontario Place and the Exhibition Grounds. The team's first race is at 11 a.m., and while it's usually recommended to be in the team's compound about 90 minutes prior to racetime, it might be recommended to come even earlier in order to grab a parking space. On a brighter note, however, the Mazda Knockout should provide some great spectating between dragon boat races, as some of the best canoe and kayak paddlers in Canada (and internationally) will be racing, including Adam Van Koeverden.

Thursdays of Thunder - July 23 update

2009-07-26T22:18:00.002-04:00

Leading into week four, this is the unofficial ranking for Thursdays of Thunder master paddling series:

OC-1 Men
1 - Brian Saunderson
2 - Ian Whitton
3 - Doug Linton
4 - Ian Adams
5 - Mark Shouldice
6 - James Haney

OC-1 Women
1 - Christine Linton
2 - Leslie Whitton
3 - Linda Findlay
4 - Samantha Katerji
5 - Janet Adams

K-1 Men
1 - Brian Saunderson
2 - Mark Shouldice
3 - Ian Whitton
4 - James Haney
5 - Doug Linton

K-1 Women
1 - Christine Linton
2 - Leslie Whitton
3 - Linda Findlay
4 - Nancy Moorcroft
5 - Janet Adams

C-1 Men
1 - Brian Saunderson
2 - Doug Linton
3 - Ian Adams

Results of July 19 OC Race

2009-07-26T20:40:00.002-04:00

15 km racers: Mens Kayak - Brian Heath (1st), Ron Coulson (2nd)
Womens Kayak – Iris Schmidt
Mens OC – Brian Saunderson
Womens OC – Allison Penn
Mixed OC-2 - Rob & Estella Prosser (1st), Mike Fekete & Beryl Green (2nd)
5 km racers: Mens OC – Alex Vandenham (1st), Bill Ford (2nd), Kevin Morris (3rd), Ian Adams (4th)
Womens OC – Leslie Whitton

July update

2009-07-07T13:38:00.002-04:00

Summer is in full swing, and things are pretty busy down at the boathouse; so busy, in fact, that I just haven't had the chance to sit down and bang out this month's edition of The Paddler.
However, there are still a number of things to update you folks on.

Paddle Camp: This week is the first week of our popular Paddle Camp for kids, and it appears as though we have a great group of kids for the first week. If you haven't already, be sure to enroll your child for a fun and exciting week on the water, as spots tend to fill up fast. Please note: there is no Paddle Camp the week of Aug. 5 due to the Wakestock event happening in the harbour. For more info on the camp, contact Doug Linton at dflinton@bmts.com...

Equipment: If you've been down to the boathouse lately, you may have noticed some new boats. Thanks to a grant from the Village at Blue Mountain Foundation, the club has been able to purchase five new boats: three stable kayaks that are accessible for all members of the club, and two Hody OC-1s, which should come in especially handy with the kids program - though the boats can be paddled by anyone!

July 19 OC Race: The club is hosting its first outrigger race on July 19. There are two races: a 17.5 km , and a five-km, bothl start from the historic Collingwood Harbour. The race will start at 10 a.m., with registration at the boathouse starting at 8:30. Race fee is $25 for the 17.5 k, or $10 for the five-k - includes post race barbecue. Categories include men's and women's OC-1, OC-2 and mixed OC-2. For more information contact Brian Saunderson at bsaunderson@christiecummings.com...

Aug. 22 Sprint Regatta: The club is also preparing to host its first WOD-level sprint regatta on Aug. 22, and we'll be needing volunteers for both this and the July 19 race. If you'd like to help out, contact Brian or myself...

High School Dragon Boat Team: Do you have a high-school-aged youth? The CDBCC is organizing a high school dragon boat team, to practice late Wednesday afternoons until Aug. 12. The cost is just $35, plus a $50 add-on if you would also like to participate in the club's open paddle sessions on Sunday afternoon, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings. For more information, contact Christine Linton at calinton@bmts.com...

Thursdays of Thunder: Thursdays of Thunder, the weekly Masters paddling race series, starts this Thursday at 6 p.m. Races in C-1 and C-2, K-1, and OC-1 in mens and womens categories. This year, the race fee is a toonie per night, and the races will be run every Thursday until the last week of August. Challenge your fellow club members in a friendly night of competition on the road to glory and fame (well, at the club, anyway). For more information on this program, feel free to contact me...

Harbourlands: Nothing new to report on the Harbourlands project; the engineer is still working on the third draft. More info will go out to club members as soon as something is presented.

June 28 Open House & Barbecue: Thanks to everyone who came out; it looked like we had quite the turnout, with a lot of folks enjoying the boats. Special thanks to Ian and Leslie Whitton for supplying the hamburgers and hotdogs for the barbecue.

Sidelauncher coach comments on Harbourlands plan

2009-06-21T20:47:00.002-04:00

Sidelauncher coach Chris Linton submitted a letter to the editor, published in Friday's Enterprise-Bulletin:

HARBOUR PLANS DON'T MAKE ENOUGH ALLOWANCES FOR ALL HARBOUR USERS
Re: Harbour plan goes for public input I wonder how many citizens of Collingwood and area have really thought about what it will be like to have a parking lot for boats in our harbour.

As an area resident, an athlete, a coach and a mother, I am alarmed about the plans for the harbour. Over the last few years, our once industrial harbour has been cleaned up and is now enjoyed by many people for many uses. I am worried that it will become not only boater-centric, as stated in your recent article, but exclusively set up for motorized boats.

My family and I are members of the Collingwood Dragon Boat and Canoe Club. Although I grew up in the area, it wasn't until a few years ago that I began to get out on the water.

Now I and my family paddle dragon boat, outrigger canoe and kayak. Our club has a burgeoning kids program, offering war canoe, flatwater paddling and dragonboat. Other communities in Ontario like Mississauga and Sudbury have thriving canoe clubs with a rich history that have produced Olympians like kayaker Adam Van Koeverden.
Collingwood has a similar jewel developing in our very own harbour.

But that is now threatened by a plan to rapidly introduce almost 200 new boat slips, which would dramatically affect the potential for shared use. The plan has made allowance for non-motorized boats to use the west side of the harbour, which frankly isn't realistic (there is nowhere to put our facilities and no potential to move the restored Watts Boathouse, our clubhouse, to that side of the harbour). This would mean crossing potentially busy boat lanes to get to our designated area. I can tell you this could mean the end of our kids' programs; as a mother I would never send my children out in a kayak to cross through lanes of motor boats.

I am concerned that your article gave significant air time to one spectator from the open house, someone who may have meant well but whose ideas just are not feasible.
Don't get me wrong -- it's not that motorboats and non-motorized boats can't coexist. Our club has made suggestions to the Harbourlands Committee that would see minor alterations to improve safety and to promote sustainable shared use.

I urge council to carefully consider how changes to the harbour can be implemented without jeopardizing the potential of what our club, the rowing club and the sailing school have to offer the community.

Don't it always seem to go...that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?

CHRIS LINTON
Nottawa

CDBCC members represent at Mississauga regatta

2009-06-14T07:20:00.002-04:00

Four members of the Collingwood Dragon Boat & Canoe Club headed to Mississauga on Saturday for MCC's annual Home Regatta.
Scoop, Commodore Brian and J.C. took part in C-1 races (only J.C. stayed dry!), and Nancy Moorcroft took to the water in the K-1; she also lept in the K-2 with a member of the West Rouge team.
Brian and J.C. also hopped in the C-2 - but were late to the starting line and ended up paddling about 300 metres rather than just the 200-metre course. In the K-2, Brian and Bill Trayling did make it to the start line (just in time!), and were able to cross the finish line mostly dry!
All-in-all the four say it was an excellent experience, and gave some insight for when the club runs its own regatta on Aug. 22.

Sidelaunchers sixth in Pickering

2009-06-07T14:31:00.002-04:00

The Collingwood Sidelaunchers, the competitive dragonboat team of the Collingwood Dragon Boat & Canoe Club, was sixth overall in the Recreational Division of the Pickering Dragon Boat Festival.
The team clocked a 2:11.93 in its final race - a race which the club found itself up against some stiff competition, featuring boats that boasted former Olympic and World champion paddlers.
The club easily qualified itself into the A division, winning its first 500-metre race of the day in a time of 2:13 to sit third overall.
In the semi-final, the club placed second in a tight race with the Mojos.

Harbourlands Proposal - message from the Commodore

2009-06-01T21:34:00.001-04:00

As many of you know, the Harbourlands Committee is asking Council to approve a harbourlands development plan that calls for a marina with 175 transient berths to be installed in the south end of the harbour in three phases.
Part of the first phase includes a gas and sewage pump out facility which will be just south of the public launch ramps. The cumulative traffic from the development plus the installation of breakwalls will, in all likelihood, effectively end all small boat paddling in the harbour. Moreover, while the plan allows for paddling activities, it has designated a 500-metre course which starts just to the west of the Club's docks and ends north of Millenium Park and well beyond the end of the spit. This is well outside the protected waters of the harbour necessary for small boats and, as the Sidelaunchers learned Sunday night, can often be too exposed for dragon boating.
The Club has made its position known to the Harbourlands Committee through our Committee representative, Scoop (Ian Adams) and written submissions. However, the Committee still believes a big marina operation is the best use of Collingwood's historic harbourlands.
This is a watershed in our development and our future. For our new members, this Club was incorporated in 2003 and started with the donation of the BuK dragon boat that year. In five short years, we have acquired the historic Watts Boathouse, which we moved and restored at a cost of over $75,000. We have a fleet of sprint and recreational boats, paddles and PFDs through ongoing fundraising efforts and generous donations with a total value of approximately $50,000.
All of this hard work is now at risk.
We need to act now and voice our objections to the marina development. There is a public open house this Wednesday, June 3, in the Council Chambers from 4 until 8 p.m. If you would like to view the Harbourlands Plan, it is online at www.Collingwood.ca/node/1840. I am asking that all our members please take the time to attend the open house and voice your objection to the current proposal. The Club through the Board will be filing written comments and expects to make an oral deputation to Council before it votes on the proposal which is anticipated to happen in July.
This is an issue that should concern all of Collingwood's residents and I would ask all of you to spread the word. Bring a friend on Wednesday to make sure the Town knows what residents think of the proposed harbourlands development. If anyone has suggestions for mounting a public campaign please let me know.
Your support is appreciated.
Brian Saunderson

CDBCC receives cheque from Village at Blue Mountain Foundation

2009-05-07T21:28:00.002-04:00

CDBCC commodore Brian Saunderson (second from left) and club vice-president Doug Linton (third from right) receive a $10,000 cheque from representatives of the Village at Blue Mountain Foundation.

Club membership form now available

2009-05-05T18:32:00.001-04:00

The club membership form for 2009 is now online, for returning and new members to the club.
Click here to download the .pdf file.

CDBCC receiving grant from Village at Blue Mountain Foundation

2009-04-22T09:28:00.003-04:00

The Collingwood Dragon Boat & Canoe Club will be receiving a $10,000 grant from the Village at Blue Mountain Foundation on Wednesday.

The club has designated the funding towards the successful Paddle Camp program run by the club in July and August. Part of the funding will be used to purchase equipment, and some of the funding will be used to offer camp opportunities to children from families who otherwise would not be able to afford it.

According to the Foundation's board, the decision to select this program was based on the solid track record of the program and the impact it has on the community.

The presentation will be made to the club's Commodore, Brian Saunderson, and board vice-president Doug Linton, from the Foundation's president Don Braden. Other Village Foundation board members expected to be on hand will be Dan Piggott, George Weider, Bob Comish, and Foundation Coordinator, Deb Piggott.

The Village at Blue Mountain Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in our local communities through its financial support of registered charitable organizations in the areas of health, human services, education, the arts, culture, the environment and recreation, with an emphasis on underprivileged children and family programs.

Since July, 2004, the Foundation has raised approximately $160,000 through its annual charity golf event, sponsorship and donations.

Dragonboat back in the water

2009-04-19T20:21:00.002-04:00

Thanks to the efforts of several clubmembers, who spent several hours sanding and varnishing, the club's BUK dragonboat was ready to hit the water this evening.

A little after five, with about 10 members each side, the dragonboat was carried from its winter home in the historic Watts Boathouse and down the ramp and into the cold, clear waters of Collingwood Harbour.

Ten hardy paddlers then headed out with Captain Bill at the helm for the first paddle of the season. Sure beats trying to paddle the pool at the Y...

(Pics by Katie Cameron)

Docks on the Loose!

2009-04-08T20:42:00.001-04:00

Commodore Brian just called me to say that the dragon boat docks that we started to work on over the weekend were no where in sight. I raced down to the harbour to join in the search. We quickly found one of the two, previously joined docks. However, it was obvious that the winds in the storm on Sunday night tore them apart and wreaked havoc with our work. We looked all over but couldn't find the other half with the dragon boat ramp. Finally, on our way home we decided to trespass onto the Shipyards property...good thing because stuck down in the far corner of the old dry-dock was the other piece of dock, ramp and all. I guess I had better get "Sea Weed" into the water on the weekend for another round of beachcombing with Relic!
Doug Linton

2009 Paddle Camp Forms available

2009-04-08T20:39:00.002-04:00

You can now download the registration forms for this years Paddle Camp from our web-site at www.collingwooddragonboats.ca
I have had a lot of people calling to register so please get your kids forms to me as soon as possible to secure a spot in your chosen weeks.
Doug Linton
(705) 444-9643

Are you on Facebook?

2009-04-07T21:48:00.003-04:00

If you're a member of the club - or a parent of one of our Paddle Camp kids - you, too, can sign up to be a fan of the Collingwood Dragon Boat & Canoe Club's Facebook page.

Just go to the club's Facebook page - and click the 'be a fan' choice under the logo. Last year's video is posted there (complete with music - shhh!), and more info will be added in the coming weeks.

Welcome to the new site of the CDBCC

2009-03-31T17:25:00.002-04:00

This is an exclusive preview of the new look for the dragon boat & canoe club web site.