north east regional extra | August 14 - 20, 2019
nemedia.com.au
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August 14 - 20, 2019
By SHANE DOUTHIE ANYTIME an individual is selected to represent their country in a world championship it’s a great honour, especially when you are a 15 year old secondary school student like Declan McClellan from Wangaratta. He is one of 10 Dragon Boat paddlers form North East Victoria who will compete at the 14th IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Pattaya, Thailand from August 20 to 25. The paddlers come from Brave Hearts Dragon Boat Club, Warriors Albury Wodonga Dragon Boat Club and Mt Beauty Dragon Boat Club. Dragon boat racing began more than 2000 years ago in China when a group of superstitious people believed that the boat racing would ensure prosperous and bountiful crops. The race has come to symbolise both man’s struggle against nature and his fight against dangerous enemies. Declan is one of eight members of Brave Hearts club in the Australian Aurora Team, proving themselves to be among the top paddlers/drummers and sweeps in the country. He is joined by fellow Brave Hearts juniors (under 18) Ella Varman, Charlotte Jones and Matthew Chapman, and seniors Diane Edmondson, Maxine Reid, Berna Cudars and Brendan Maher, along with Kerry Keil (Warriors Dragon Boat Club), and Lisa Smallbone (Mt Beauty). Declan said he was inspired by his ‘Nan’ and ‘Pop’ to take up the sport and is now in his fifth season of paddling the long decorative boats. “My Nan and Pop used to be members of Brave Hearts,” Declan said.
Young dragon master ◆ ON THE WORLD STAGE: Declan McClellan is representing Australia at the Dragon Boat World Championships in Thailand.
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