Dragon Boat Racing!

After several years of talking and attempts to create a dragon boat team, CCSS finally is moving off the shore & into the water with a team of paddlers!

Under the leadership of CCSS president Francis Lau, a team comprised of members and friends, augmented by rowers from the Stockton Rowing Club, is entering competition at the 2005 San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival on August 27-28.

The Delta Dragons, the moniker adopted by the team, is racing in the novice class against other teams which have not previously competed in a dragon boat race.

Previously known as the Northern California International Dragon Boat Championships, the 10th anniversary of the race, the now renamed event with Kaiser Permanente as the Title Sponsor, will have nearly 100 dragon boat teams and 2,500 dragon boat paddlers from throughout North America , including Canada , racing across the 500 meter course. This year's competition takes place on Treasure Island at Clipper Cove against the backdrop of the San Francisco skyline and the SF/Oakland Bay Bridge.

Racing is just part of the Festival, which features fun activities with games

and prizes for kids, and plenty of live music and entertainment. Lion dance, taiko, polynesian and Chinese folk dance, hip hop and more are planned.

And, vendors, of course, purveying foods and souvenirs. Admission is free for the festival.

Delta Dragons will be racing on Saturday, August 27th. Come out to cheer on the team, bring the family, and enjoy a fun day in the bay.

Taking part from CCSS on the Delta Dragons team are Francis Lau, Kan Cheung, Renee and Michael Fong, Loreen Huey, Gladys Ikeda, Danny Lee, Tanya and Manny Moreno, Kiyoshi and Mabel Morodomi, Ray Tom, Jeri Wong, and Lianne Dominguez Fong.

Augmenting the team roster are Amy Lau, Patrick Lau, Darryl Ko, Bing Hui, Stanley Lam, Joseph Li, Rick and Lanette Grippi, and Stockton Rowing Club members Tracy Almarez, KC Biederman, Eden Crane, Jennifer Faukner, Carol McCandless, Bob Opranoy and Pat Tirone.

Coaches for the team are veteran paddlers, Stocktonians Chuck Chen and Sharon Beall, members of the championship Dragon Warriors, San Francisco .

If you can't make race day, come watch Delta Dragons' rowing practice at noon the first three Saturdays in August at Lake Merced near the Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco .

Visit www.cdba.org for festival details, or see the August 2005 Sunset Magazine, page 37.

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