Dragon Boat – paddles up, take it away

Allison Verley is all smiles with her silver medal at the 2022 Club Crew World Dragon Boat Championships in Sarasota, Florida this past August where Allison Verley medalled in the premier division, receiving gold in the 2,000m and silver in both the 200m and 500m.

Ashley Evans, Strategic Communications Officer, FMF CB/CS — A workforce member at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) is vying for the National Dragon Boat Team selection this May. Allison Verley, Acting Project Leader for HMCS Winnipeg and a member of The Gorging Dragons, an elite paddling team that’s part of the Vancouver Island Paddling Club, says she looks forward to the busy training schedule.

“Competing at the Club Crew World Champions (CCWC) (one of the premiere events of the International Dragon Boating Federation) requires training lifestyle, dedication to the team, and having your eyes on the prize,” she says, adding that the team must finish in the top seven nationwide to even have the opportunity to compete, which is often a very tall task in Canada.

The team won gold while representing Canada in the 2022 CCWC last July, an accomplishment achieved after years of training and dedication.

Verley first paddled with the Navy Dragon Anchors, established by Rear-Admiral Buck in 2001, from 2011-2013 before joining the Gorging Dragons. She would train approximately three hours per week, but since joining the high-performance racing team with the VI Paddling Club, her training hours have increased to six hours per week in the team setting and two in a small one-person outrigger canoe. There is also a gym component for strength training, which adds another few hours per week.

Now, she is vying for the National Team selection, with an upcoming camp in Tampa Bay, Florida, and a final Team Canada selection camp in Montreal this May. She said representing Canada has been the most rewarding experience while on the team.

“Wearing a maple leaf on my jersey, holding my national flag on the podium, and wearing a gold metal – it’s a rush!” she said.

The team is focused on high-performance racing and participated in the 2022 event with five other teams in three race lengths. The race categories included 200m, 500m, and 2,000m. Of the 15 race events, their Club medalled in 13, with Allison personally medalling in the premier division for all three categories, receiving gold in the 2,000m and silver in the 200m and the 500m.

It is truly unique how many incredible athletes we have in the FMF Cape Breton unit. Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far, and we wish you all the best in your paddling journey, Allison!

Interested in getting involved?

This is a team sport, and there is always time to try it! The Navy team is currently recruiting military members and families of the Defence community. Inquires can be sent through waywardwill@yahoo.ca or robert.macdonald@forces.gc.ca

For those interested in a higher-level commitment, contact info@vipaddling.com

Facts:

Local clubs include: Victoria Island Paddling Club, Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club (VCKC), Fairway Gorge Paddling Centre, and Latitude 38. Our Navy Dragon Anchors paddle out of VI Paddling.