In and out of the boat, the Boobops Dragon boat team has had a stunning season, says one of the newest team members Bridget Prendiville.

Like all her fellow crew members, Bridget is a survivor of breast cancer, and has been paddling with the team of over 45 paddlers for 18 months.

'I had [cancer] treatment in 2021 and I've just loved finding this amazing sport where we support each other, have lots of fun together, train hard every week even in winter, and then are very competitive when we get to race,” says Bridget.

'Due to Covid we unfortunately did not get to compete in regionals and nationals last year and so it has been very exciting competing in both these competitions this year and then also in the international regatta, all taking place over the past month,” says Bridget.

The 2023 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival on Lake Karapiro. Photo: Supplied.

In March, Bridget found herself enjoying the team's stellar success of winning gold medals in the 200m, 500m, and 2000m races at the regional competition on Lake Pupuke in Auckland.

The Boobops became national champions at Lake Karapiro over Easter in the 20-women boat for the 500 metre and 2000 metre races, and won bronze in the 10-woman boat for 500 metres.

Unfortunately the 200 metre races were cancelled due to high wind conditions.

'The highlight of our season was entering two Boobop teams into the international 2023 Breast Cancer Participatory Dragon Boat Festival on Lake Karapiro from April 15 – 16 with 85 teams from over 37 countries the world competing.”

Dragon boats competing on Lake Karapiro. Photo: Supplied.

The international festival is held every four years under the auspices of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers' Commission. The NZ-held festival this year began with a welcome meet and greet, a parade of nations through Cambridge, followed by a traditional Dragon Boat eye dotting ceremony before the 500m races began.

'Our two teams did extremely well with Boobops Moana coming second and Boobops Aroha 25^th in the world which were very pleasing results despite the fact that the high winds on the lake meant the 500m final races had to be cancelled and the placings were determined by the heat times.”

The Boopops Moana team came second behind the Waikato Treasure Chest team.

'These are excellent results for the two New Zealand teams.

'It was the most amazing regatta to be involved in as we got to interact with so many wonderful women from all over the world and have made some wonderful memories. It was great fun swapping team pins and racing shirts with each other,” says Bridget.

Boobops competing on Lake Karapiro. Photo: Supplied.

Julie Sach, also exhilarated by the team's recent success, has been part of Boobops Dragons for 15 years.

'There were six New Zealand crews in the top 10 at this international breast cancer regatta, and it's the first time the international event has been held here in New Zealand. And it's the twentieth birthday of our team this year.”

The Boobops qualified this year to go to the World Club crew competition in Italy in 2024. They have previously competed in Australia, Florida and Florence.

'We will be fundraising to go to Italy. With international travel some of the team will be travelling outside New Zealand for their first time,” says Julie.

Boobops all ready for the Pink Parade of Nations in Cambridge. Photo: Supplied.

Julie says the exercise through dragon boat racing is medicine and helps prevent recurrences of breast cancer.

'While we come together through breast cancer, it's important that we exercise.”

Breast cancer survivors' dragon boating is an international movement inspired by the research of Canadian sports medicine specialist Don McKenzie. Survivors of breast cancer join together to paddle dragon boats to the benefit of their physical health and social wellbeing.

'Don started it in the 90s in Canada,” says Julie. 'Breast cancer survivors were told to exercise their arms post-surgery. He was a kayaker, but that's a solo sport, so he started a movement to paddle dragon boats. It's now a worldwide movement across five continents.”

Boobops Dragon team competing on Lake Karapiro. Photo: Supplied.

Bridget is still buzzing from the past month of triumphs at the regional, national and international regattas.

'It's been such a successful and enjoyable season and it is thanks to our wonderful coach Judith Butler and our experienced senior team members who all encourage us to train hard and stay fit so that we can become the best paddlers we can be, to always have fun on and off the water and to ‘love each other',” says Bridget.

'What's been amazing is the camaraderie, and fun interacting with women from within New Zealand and around the world who have had similar journeys in their life.

'We're so tough and forget about it all [cancer] and paddle hard because we are very grateful to be given a second chance. It's [Dragon boat racing] that has given us all a new lease on life and it is an amazing way for breast cancer survivors to become thrivers.”

A survivor is a person who has lived through hardship or disaster. A thriver is more than that. It is someone who not only goes through an exceptionally positive or threatening life event, but shows subsequent growth because of the experience.

Anyone wanting to learn more about Boobops, or help them with fundraising for the 2024 international world crew regatta in Italy can contact them via their Facebook page www.facebook.com/Boobopsdragonboating