Sport
23 January, 2026
State selection for Dragons
TWO members of the South C Dragons are headed to the Australian championships as members of the Victorian regional team.
Dragons’ president Victoria Dunn and fellow club member Kelvin Johnson impressed state team selectors in recent months, successfully ‘passing’ a series of qualification tests both in and out of the water.
An estimated 200 plus hopefuls from across the state put their names forward for possible selection for the Victorian regional team.
“It was quite the process,” Victoria said.
“Once we submitted our expressions of interest late last year we were given an eight week training program which included sessions both in the gym and in the boat.
“We then had to travel to Melbourne in December where we were tested to see if we could hit certain benchmarks in various challenges; I was unfortunately away for that day but was able to do it in a local gym and had to be supervised and signed off.”
Along with the various physical challenges in the gym, applicants also had to show their capabilities in a dragon boat.
“We had to sit in the centre of the boat, as a sweep, with one other person opposite us (purely for balance purposes) and then had to paddle the boat on our own for a racing distance of 200 metres.
“This was not only to show our technique but to also test our stamina.”
Selection trials also involved two camps – both held on the water at Victoria Harbour, Docklands – where applicants were closely monitored in race conditions.
“Our first camp was in November and the second in December,” Victoria said.
“The filming was very intense; every movement seemed to be scrutinised so it was quite the challenge.”
Victoria and Kelvin both gained the attention of selectors – and will now be presented with their Vic Regional shirts at a special ceremony on February 7.
The team will compete in the Australian Dragon Boat Federation’s national championships on the Sunshine Coast.
The event will take place on Lake Kawana from April 20-23.
“The juniors will compete on April 18 and there will also be club races so I’m hoping our club (South C Dragons) will send a team to compete.
“It would be wonderful if we could have a team up there on the water.”
Teams entered in the national championships will compete in various divisions over distances of 200m, 500m, 1000m and 2000m.
