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Brookfields Staff on the podium at Pangbourne Dragon Boat competition
On Saturday 11th June 17 foolhardy soles braved the ‘changeable’ weather conditions and made camp in Pangbourne meadows in preparation for their participation in the Rotary Club’s annual Dragon Boat competition that forms part of the Pangbourne fete.
This was the third year that a school staff team has taken part, this year ably led by team coaches Kelley Stone and Michael Shellard. In previous editions the crew have been competitive, but without being able to make the step up onto the podium.
The event consists of three heats a Semi-Final and a Grand Final. In the second heat of the day Brookfields recorded their fastest time of the day and second fastest time overall. This qualified us to be in the afternoon’s Semi Final, meaning the final heat was a dead rubber, which was just as well as owing to some questionable helmsman-ship, the Brookfields boat ended up in the bank of the river Thames!
The team rallied from their rather alarming brush with mother nature and having dined on sandwiches and Ice Cream, were fighting fit for the afternoon’s exertions.
Brookfields once again recorded a competitive time that saw them qualify for the Grand Final. After a rousing team talk the crew boarded their boat one last time. Ultimately the team lost to a crew that had be consistently strong across the day but only by a matter of centimetres! The team were still rightly proud of achieving second place, receiving a dragon head trophy.
The event was in aid of the Rotary Club Pangbourne, with funds going to local charities. In addition to the nearly £500 raised for the Rotary club the crew raised an additional £110 to go towards activities for the Brookfields Summer Holiday Club.
The crew are keener than ever to return next year and go one better and win the contest!



