Videos- Advanced Paddling Course
Below are the training videos taken on the day of the Advanced Paddling course by Julie and her husband Mick.
Advanced Paddling Course a huge Success
A big thanks to Julie and Mick, Louise, the committee and all involved in running today’s course. Also thanks to Mayo Sports Partnership and the Castlebar Adventure Hub.
Members agreed we all learned loads and hopefully we will improve our paddling technique and ace the Athy Regatta!
Thanks to Lough Lannagh for providing a super lunch.
Adris was club photographer on the day, check out her excellent photos in our Photo Gallery – click on link below
VIEW HERE
Extra exercises for Dragon Boaters at home – link from by Adris https://dragonanalytics.com.au/exercises-for-dragon-boaters-at-home/
The Club looks forward to Advanced Paddling Workshop
With the support of Mayo Sports Partnership, the Club has extended an invitation to Julie Doyle, Vice President of the Irish Dragon Boat Federation, to conduct an Advanced Dragon Boat Paddler Workshop. The course has received an overwhelming response, reaching full capacity quickly and necessitating the creation of a waiting list due to high demand.
31 Gráine Mhaol Dragons will take part this Saturday (April 13th) this has been made possible by Mayo Sports Partnership.
Members will participate in an extensive course. It will commence at 9.00am and run until 4.30pm on Saturday. To maximise numbers, paddlers will be rotated in and out on the day.
There will be classroom/land sessions and water based sessions. Julie will cover paddling techniques, timing accuracy, land drills and paddling drills. Other areas will include:
- What makes a boat go faster?
- Pushing yourself to the limit / Pain Tolerance
- Mind over matter
- Dragon boat start sequence
Julie will video groups of paddlers on the boat and review each individual’s paddling technique. She will also run a run a Helm Test on the day.
Soup and sandwiches for lunch will be provided at no charge to members.
Our club and members extend a heartfelt thank you to MAYO SPORTS PARTNERSHIP for their generous sponsorship of this Advanced Padding course.
Plurabelle Visit kick starts the season
Earlier than usual, our lovely friends from the Grand Canal Basin came to Lough Lannagh for a visit. The ladies left a snow white Dublin on March 1st to arrive in a wet with sunny spells Castlebar. All the seasons in one day!
We had a great paddle on the lake with the 2 boats out, on Sat a.m and the boats were mixed with club members from both Clubs.
We followed on from there into the Cafe at Lough Lannagh for Pauls amazing scones and coffee. It was here that the Plurabelles presented us with an original paddle from when the Plurabelles first set up. It is a wooden paddle with the Club logo on it and it was surprisingly very light.
Some of the girls couldn’t resist the call of Croagh Patrick, so off they went and rounded off their day with climbing the mountain.
Lovely as always having the girls in Mayo, maybe this year we will get to visit them at their home on the Grand Canal.
It was a Wet, not Windy, nearly Warm, definitely Wonderful a.m. on the water
Gráine Mhaol Dragons got off to a great start for 2024 with a nice sized crew and loads of enthusiasm and a chance to try out our new compound cover and it did not disappoint ♥ Lots of plans for the Year, so let’s get this party started. New members are very welcome and after 2 sessions be hooked on Irelands fastest growing new sport. Regattas for the Club this year, include Athy in May, Carlow in June and Lough Rinn in September. 
Strength And Conditioning Classes with Paddy Flannelly
Gráine Mhaol Dragons went en force to Paddy Flannellys gym for 6 weeks, doing a bespoke Strength and conditioning session with him each night , in preparation for the season ahead.
All participants felt the classes had improved their fitness levels and upper body strength. It wasn’t all hard work though, there was plenty of craic to be had.