MEDIA RELEASE Sunday, 18 March 2007

Results of Auckland Dragon Boat Festival 2007 Schools Final Races

The winning schools in the 23rd Auckland Dragon Boat Festival are Epsom Girls Grammar School and Kaipara College.

Girls Division: 1st place " Epsom Girls Grammar School Blue team 2nd place " Epsom Girls Grammar School Gold team 3rd place " Westlake Girls

Boys Division: 1st place " Kaipara College 2nd place " Shirley Boys High 3rd place " Northcote College

Mixed Division: 1st place " Kaipara College 2nd place " Birkenhead College 3rd place " Northcote College

Auckland Dragon Boat Festival Organiser, Gavin Franicevic says: "The final school division races are always a highlight of the weekend-long festival because the spectators are so supportive.

"We"ve seen thousands of Mums, Dads, brothers, sisters and friends lining the Viaduct Harbour in support of the young dragon boaters today. It"s just like one big family down here.

"Each school that made it to the final today has put in hours of training out on the water after school and picked up invaluable water education and teamwork skills."

Mr Franicevic says next year"s event is going to be even bigger and better if additional corporate sponsorship can be secured.

"We"re looking at evolving the Auckland Dragon Boat Festival into a culturally significant event and celebrate the cultural elements of the sport by incorporating it into the Chinese New Year.

"As part of that we"ll be getting new dragon boats built in the traditional style with decorative dragon heads and tails. We"d like to bring back the Queen Street parade and put on a real show that all Aucklanders can enjoy," he says.

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