Everything Gaelic you need to know this week!

SRR Race Report, Captain’s Message And Our Featured Writer This Week

35th Singapore River Regatta Race Report

by Jenny O’Brien

Over one night and two full days from 3-5 November, the Gaelic Dragons were out in force at the 35th Singapore River Regatta at Boat Quay. We sent out crews in eight different categories across the three race days. Cheering from our prime position at our wonderful sponsor bar, The Penny Black, Gaelic supporters new and old came down to watch the spectacle and to ensure our crews felt pumped and celebrated as they raced. Our valiant steers managed to navigate the challenging waters to avoid most of the collisions and capsizes that plagued many teams, with us only once receiving an unexpected visit from a wayward AustCham boat.

All in all, we saw some great performances from our crews, showing the progress made over a hard year of training and a new coaching regime, performing as best they could in the currents and swells of this controversial race venue at the mercy of the lane draw. Highlights from the results included our glow stick coated 12-crew Mixed boat claiming third runner up in the Grand Final of Friday’s Night Race (the first in Singapore in 20 years) and our maverick Senior Mixed crew making their debut and sealing their place in the Gaelic line up by making the semifinals after a powerful repechage win. Some traditional esky dipping and some solid Penny Black time concluded the weekend. This marks the end of a successful race season for the Gaelics and we’re keen to see what the next year brings!

Many thanks to our coach and captains for keeping everyone working hard and motivated to bring our best efforts to every race!

For race photos, please visit Alan Lee’s(Right Exposure Photography) Facebook account (you don’t need a Facebook account to view).

Captain’s Message

First of all, well done to the team for an amazing Singapore River Regatta! This would not have been as amazing as it was without every single Gaelic who has been part of it whether you were a racer, supporter, or part of the organizing committee. We all did our part and supported the team in every way we can. THANK YOU!

This year has been tough but nevertheless an amazing one. There were lots of ups and downs during our journey but we all stayed together and helped build this team back up again. It was not easy but all the decisions and plans made from training to races may not be agreeable or in favor of everyone but they were put into action with the best interest for the team.

Gaelic Dragons is both a competitive and a social team – This is who we are! No matter how we up our game, we will never lose any side of it. It will be a challenge to balance both sides but we will be the team who wins races and enjoys every moment of the journey with our team – our Gaelic Family! As long as we keep on supporting each other, we will be able to do this!

SRR might be the mark of the end of the season but this is just the beginning for us. The only way from here is up, so let us not let the hard work we have done this year go to waste. Let’s keep the fire burning within ourselves and within the team! TOGETHER we can achieve bigger things for 2018!

PADDLES UP! KICK ARSE! GO GAELICS!

Misconceptions About Dragon Boating

by Chin “Coach” Waihong

Strength endurance – Strength and endurance are at the spectrum of the strength-endurance continuum. Lifting heavy weights for lower repetitions lead to greater gains in strength while lifting light weights for higher repetitions lead to greater gains in endurance Read more…

NO TRAINING THIS WEEK!

Yes! After your awesomeness the last weekend, you deserve some break! So there’s no Tuesday bootcamp tonight, Wednesday morning session this week, and no Sunday training. The only day you will be in the boat is on Saturday for our David Beattie Memorial [Newbie + Reunion] Day!

But don’t fret! You might miss our water sessions, but it doesn’t mean you will miss the monthly workout. The November gym program is out! Aoife has sent to the WhatsApp group. If you missed that message or you think you are not on that chat group yet, please let Aoife know so she can add you to the group.

Some additional info you need to know:

1. Some parts of Kallang riverside park are closed from today. Please allow a few extra minutes to get to our event this weekend because you might have to take a longer way around.

2. For those coming to Penang, Aoife will be sending some details and updates this week. Anyone who hasn’t sent their flight details yet, please do so.

3. For those regulars who haven’t clicked/tapped on “Going” on the Facebook event page, please do so if you are coming. If you don’t have Facebook, please message or let Mandy Irvine know. This will help us plan the correct amount of food to order.

4. For those regulars who have their own paddles, please bring it this weekend as we might not have enough paddles for the event.

5. Our Black Friday will be sort of shifted to Saturday. After our David Beattie Memorial Day, we will head down to Penny Black after the fun and games at Kallang Beach.

David Beattie Memorial Newbie Day

11 November, 1 p.m.

We are inviting, all the old and new Gaelic Dragons members to join us on the first ever David Beattie Memorial Day. This will be a day of reminiscing and pure fun as we pay tribute to our founding Father, David Beattie. There will be fun races and exciting games during the day. There will also be some special reading that will happen during the opening.

To the old and active members, reminisce and share to us your Gaelic Dragons stories. If you have old photos, especially with our dear David, please send it to info@gaelicdragons.org and it will be published to our upcoming newsletters and website.

For the newbies, join us and experience what dragon boating is all about. There will be a paddling session and fun races at the end. Learn the dragon boating techniques and develop this new skill.

For all the members, you already know the drill. Remember to wear your Gaelic Dragons jerseys.

For newbies, bring the following:

1. Comfortable sports/workout clothes and be prepared to get wet in them

2. Flip flops

3. Loads of sunscreen

4. Caps or bandanas if you have

5. Towel and change of clothes

Do bring your family and friends and share the experience! No dragon boating experience required for those first timers.

The cost of the event is $35 and this covers equipment, training, food, water, soft drinks, alcohol and a bus to our sponsor bar The Penny Black in the evening.

If you have not completed the waiver (newbies and oldies), please complete it here before you arrive to save time on the day.

Quiz on the 9th is woth a pint!

9 November, from 8pm

The Penny Black

It’s definitely worth a pint! Join us this Thursday night for a fun trivia and quiz at The Penny Black starting at 8pm. Bring in your team and win the bucket! It will be grand!

Please find updates on this Facebook event by our Quiz Master!

#itsgrandwithMasterSid

The Penny Black Christmas Party

17 November

We are invited! Our sponsor bar will be having their customer appreciation night and have invited the team. There will be live band from 7pm and they will make space for a dance floor from 10pm. Be there!

Gaelic Dragons Christmas Party 2017
16 DecemberIt’s that time of the year again! And where else would it be?! Save the date for our year-end party and awards night. Details of the event and the nominations will be out soon.

Prince of Wales Pizza Eating Competition

18 November

The Prince of Wales is having a pizza eating competition on Saturday, 18th November. They are looking for 8 teams, 3 people in each team. You need to eat a 20-inch pizza between 3 people to win prizes worth $300. Now we only have 1 team joining. If you’re also interested, message Mandy Irvine on Facebook.

There is also no cost to enter the race. Absolutely free!

Save the dates!

Race Dates

We have updated race dates, and do plan ahead.

December 2-3

Penang International Dragon Boat Festival

Fun Races & Upcoming Social Events

November 11

David Beattie Memorial Newbie Day

December 16

Gaelic Dragons Christmas Party

Gaelics, we need your help!

For the past newsletter issues, we have been calling the Gaelics to submit stories or articles to be featured and published on our Gaelic Dragons website. We are still encouraging you guys to write for our newsletter and we would be very delighted to receive it.

To submit, please email it to info@gaelicdragons.org.

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