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Team GB Dragon Boating Squad Train In Liverpool Docklands At The Liverpool Watersports Centre In Preperation For The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Championships At Rayong-Pattaya In Thailand
The Team GB Premier Dragon Boating Squad recently trained at the Liverpool Watersports Centre, in preparation for the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Championships in Thailand during August.
Team GB have attended either European or international championships every year since the first international championships in 1995.
The Premier Squad of 20 paddlers train together once a month in locations around the UK as well as training individually 8-10 times per week. This year, five of the GB Premier Squad are members of Liverpool’s Dragon Boating Club, Amathus.
The World Championships will be held at Rayong-Pattaya in Thailand from the 7th to the 13th of August.
The Amathus Team involved includes: Patrick Cosgrove (Coach of Team GB), Lauren Cosgrove, Gigie Peneche, Scot Westwood, and Paul Healey (Assistant Coach).
Last year, I was very fortunate to be selected to go to the European Championships, coming away with two bronze medals... I can’t wait to get out to the championships and compete on the world stage, against some of the best countries in the world.' - Lauren Cosgrove, Member of Team GB set to compete in Thailand.
Dragon boating is the UK’s fastest-growing water sport and attracts people from all walks of life. It’s enjoyed by many as a really social, teamworking sport, and is a great way of forming new friendships.
Lauren Cosgrove, an NHS Dentist from Southport in the Liverpool City Region's Borough of Sefton, has been dragon boating since 2018. She got into the sport as her then boyfriend, now husband, was heavily involved in the sport on a national and international level and strongly encouraged her to have a go. Lauren, said: 'I’m really excited to be a part of Team GB again this year'.
She added: 'Last year, I was very fortunate to be selected to go to the European Championships, coming away with two bronze medals. With further hard work, I was selected again this year to attend the World Championships! I can’t wait to get out to the championships and compete on the world stage, against some of the best countries in the world.'
Lauren’s husband, Patrick Cosgrove, is the GB Premier squad’s coach. He’s been dragon boating since childhood and has years of experience in coaching both junior and senior teams. This is his second year as the coach for the premier squad, having first taken up the mantel for the European championships last year.
Patrick, said: 'Things are really kicking up a gear now that we’re just three weeks away from travelling to Thailand. This weekend, I’ll be watching the squad and making final assessments on how our women’s and mixed teams will be set up. Having the right physical balance in the boats is really important in getting through the water faster. It's all about which combination of people makes the most effective team as a whole.'
Alongside a packed training schedule, the squad are trying to raise funds to help meet the cost of entry into the championships. This includes essential kit and entry fees as well as travel and accommodation costs for every training weekend and the championships themselves – a total of nearly £3,000 per person. Funds are raised through a combination of donations and sponsorships, with a number of sponsorship opportunities available for businesses.
Dragon Boat Racing originated in China over 2,000 years ago. The standard boats raced today are 40 feet long and are constructed from glass fibre, rather like large canoes. Wooden gunwales and seats help to retain a traditional look, and the boats are fitted with a colourful dragon's head and tail, plus the drums for racing.
A standard crew consists of between 16 and 20 paddlers sitting side by side, with a helm standing at the back to steer the boat, and a drummer beating time.
The GB Premier Crew will be racing small boats, which are of the same construction but are shorter and designed for a crew of 10 paddlers.
'Things are really kicking up a gear now that we’re just three weeks away from travelling to Thailand.' - Patrick Cosgrove, Coach for the Team GB Premier Squad.
The Liverpool City Region's Amathus Club Members involved in Team GB appear in the picture above. In order from the Back Row, Left-Right: Scot Westwood, Paul Healey, and Patrick Cosgrove. Front Row, Left-Right: Gigie Peneche, and Lauren Cosgrove.
Dragon Boat Racing is becoming one of the fastest growing and most popular sports in the world. In the UK alone, the sport has estimated that 41,000 people in 850 crews take part in events throughout the summer months.
The international championships will take place in Pattaya, Thailand, from Tuesday the 8th to Sunday the 13th of August. Team GB will be racing against teams from Australia, Canada, China, China Hong Kong, China Macau, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Ukraine, and the USA.
You can also read the Official Invitation and Competition Bulletins filled with specifications and detailed information about the IDBF World Championships.
Amathus is based at Liverpool Watersports Centre and always welcomes new members, with or without any amount of sporting experience. For more information visit the Amathus website.
Liverpool Watersports Centre Address
Queens Dock,
110 Mariners Wharf,
Liverpool Waterfront,
Liverpool City Centre,
City of Liverpool, L3 4DG,
Liverpool City Region, UK.