KEMPSEY locals Mignon Piper and Shirley Baines have won a swag of silver medals as part of the Australian dragon boat racing team, the Auroras, at the 12th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Canada.
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The hard working women from the outstanding local dragon boat team, the Kempsey Macleay River Rats, competed against 4000 of the world’s best paddlers from 20 plus countries in the pinnacle of dragon boat racing.
Piper competed in the U40s Auroras Australian senior A side and collected four silver medals, one each in the 2km, 1km, 500m and 200m races.
Baines competed in the U60s Auroras Australian side and collected three silver medals in the 2km, 500m and 200m races.
Piper told The Macleay Argus the Canadians were extremely strong on their home turf, winning gold in many events, but in most cases only by a 100th of a second in front of the Australians.
“It was a tough competition,” Piper said.
“In many of the races we had all four seasons rolled into one where it was really windy, raining, cold and miserable.
“Canada did well but in many of the races the gap was only by a 100th of a second.
“It was very frustrating especially when we were going neck to neck on the water and playing leap frog to have them beat us by a dragon whisker.”
Baines said despite taking home silver medals and not the gold, the experience was one she will never forget.
“Canada was really gunning for the Australians because a couple of years ago we took the gold off them in the 500m race," she said.
"They haven’t forgotten that so they really cleaned us up in all of the events but only by a 100th of a second in most.
“It was an amazing experience and anybody who is an athlete, I recommend that you try to represent the country because it is such an honour and a wonderful experience.
“Even though we were competing against other teams and there was rivalry, the camaraderie was fantastic and it’s an experience I will not forget.”
Piper said the atmosphere was phenomenal and she was constantly on a high.
“When I was on the start line my heart was beating through my jersey and it got quite nerve racking.
"Even though I didn’t get gold the experience was fantastic and standing up on the podium collecting silver was surreal.”