Racing was over two days with the distance events of 2km and 500m on Saturday and sprints on Sunday.  With windy conditions on Saturday and a five men and 14 women team, the Rats came second in the 2km race and third in the 500m race to a strong Central Coast team from a field of 13 starters.

Kempsey Macleay Dragon Boat Club coach Mark Bradney said the conditions on the Sunday were near perfect and produced the club’s finest men’s result in eight years. 

“This division was contested by ten clubs with each club consisting of ten male paddlers,” Bradney said.  

“The Rats were down on numbers and had only eight paddlers but were still expected to make the final.

“The men’s division has never been won with only eight men at any regatta in the history of the club by any other team.

“With nothing to lose and history books to rewrite, the men produced an absolute assault in the race and finished ahead of the rest by a whopping three seconds producing their finest hour. The Rats came in third in the women’s and mixed divisions by very close margins. 

“Overall, the Rat Machine was the only club to be placed in all events in both days of racing.”