On the morning of June 29th, the 2024 Huizhou Dragon Boat Race was successfully held at Jinshan Lake Park. Themed "Dragons Racing in the GBA, Competing for Excellence," the event was jointly organized by the Huizhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV, Tourism and Sports and the government of Huicheng District.
A total of 21 dragon boat teams from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Yangjiang, and various counties and districts within Huizhou, participated in the competition.
The competition featured three categories: County/District Men's Division, County/District Women's Division and Open Category. Two events were included: the 200-meter and 500-meter straight-course races. In the County/District Men's Division and the Open Category, teams comprised 22 paddlers, while teams in the County/District Women's Division consisted of 12 paddlers. Preliminary rounds and finals determined the rankings in each category.
Throughout the races, the dragon boat teams engaged in fierce neck-and-neck competition. With synchronized chants and powerful strokes, each team gave their all, their dragon boats resembling mighty dragons surging towards the finish line. The spectacle not only showcased the players' indomitable spirit and teamwork, but also allowed spectators to appreciate the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture.
After intense battles, Yangjiang Bohe Dragon Boat Club clinched both the 200-meter and 500-meter titles in the Open Category. The Dongpo Team of Huicheng District swept the 200-meter and 500-meter events in the County/District Men's Division.
The Women's Dragon Boat Team of Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone won the 200-meter and 500-meter events in the County/District Women's Division. The Zhaoyun Team of Huicheng District and the Women's Dragon Boat Team of Huiyang District secured the second and third places in the women's 200-meter event, while the Women's Dragon Boat Team of Huiyang District and the Women's Dragon Boat Team of HZZK High-tech Industrial Development Zone finished second and third, respectively, in the County/District Women's 200-meter race.
The Men's Dragon Boat Team of Huidong County and the Men's Dragon Boat Team of Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone won the second and third places in the County/District Men's 200-meter and 500-meter events. The Yong'an Xinlong Dragon Boat Team of Foshan and the Zhongtang Jiaguan Dragon Boat Club of Dongguan secured second and third places in the Open Category 200-meter and 500-meter events. In addition to conventional prizes, trophies and medals, the top three finishers in each category also received Huizhou specialties as prizes such as Linpo liquor and lychees.
Text | He Zhen, Yu Lulu
Photos provided to GDToday
Editor | Monica, Clarice, Jame
