Brett

Brett Bartholomew and Dragon Boating - a Personal Journey

On the 3-8th August 2011 Sandy Point local Brett Bartholomew competed in the 10th International Dragon Boat World Championships in Florida, USA. Brett represented Australia in the Grand Masters Category in both Open Mens and the Mixed Teams in races of 200m, 500m, 1km and 2km. In the Grand Masters category Australia picked up 4 Silver medals all won by the women’s team. The Aus squad collected 17 medals in total, a record haul for an Australian team at a world title event.

Brett was inspired to start paddling a few years ago when Peter Arnold first suggested Dragon boating would be available if we could get a crew together at Sandy Point. He saw this as a way to get out of the gym and become part of a competitive team environment. After many years of retirement from Rugby this was a good way to get back into a sport that offered some level of competition.

Since then, and as he aged gracefully, the lure of representing Australia as a dragon boat paddler in the Grand Masters category loomed. In mid 2009 Brett decided that attempting to make the 2011 Aus team was worth a shot, after all he was strong and a competent paddler. In 2010 he made the NSW GM State squad, the first step. This also gave him an idea of where he stood in relation to other paddlers in NSW. This confirmed that he could give the Aus squad a real shot.

Mid 2010 he commenced basic training knowing that he had to lift his level of strength and fitness over a long period to really give himself a chance. In this period a focus on building strength and endurance was the aim with only a basic idea of what was actually going to be needed. In Dec 2010 the call went out from the Aus Dragon Boat Federation to those paddlers interested in try outs for the 2011 Aus squad. This 2011 squad was to see selection of the Australian “Auroras” team from the best around Australia. Try outs were physical strength exercises and fitness tests. The first cut of 40 was made.

From that point on he and others embarked on a 6 month selection process incorporating two separate training camps and an elimination process that ensured Australia was fielding one of the strongest teams it has sent away. The selection process was confronting and gruelling. Coaches were in your face for much of the paddling sessions looking for technique. Videos of each paddler were taken in close up and later we were critiqued on the big screen by the coaches. They looked in detail at every point of the stroke, entry, length, exit, body position, head position and then made recommendations on how to improve. They then expected to see these adopted in the next water sessions. We were also asked to repeat the selection trial exercises and fitness tests to ensure we were improving our levels of strength and condition. For the 6 months we all toiled at the gym, ran, biked, rowed to improve our condition and made sure were stronger and fitter than we were in December.

In May the final selection camp and tests were conducted. Four more gruelling and intense days on the water and in the gym trying to impress the coaches. This is where the numbers would be cut to 26. Three sessions a day on the water, racing, starts, 200m, 2km, men’s and women’s crews, mixed crews, 500m flat out and all the while, technique! Reward, Brett made the final cut of 26 and was confirmed as an Australian representative paddler.

Now the hard work really started. At least 4 sessions a week on the water, gym work under a pre determined workout program designed by the coach. Cardio work to make sure we kept our condition and all to be recorded every day on line. As we neared July the training increased. At least five sessions a week on the water, all designed to bring us to a peak in August. We trained in the arly morning on weekends and evenings mid week. It was the middle of winter so we were training in rain, hail and shine and it was cold or colder. We made it through and we were now fitter and stronger than most of us had been for a lot of years. All the time being hammered about our technique, over and over again.

Late July arrived and we took off for Florida. 5 days of training before the Championships and then into it. No time here to relate the championships, this needs a whole other chapter. Looking back on it all and reflecting on the journey. It was hard work, it was stressful and at times difficult, but it was a fabulous journey. From the first thoughts in 2009 and then the training, learning a new technique, water sessions, gym sessions, cardio workouts, freezing in a boat at night in winter, getting home wet 5 days a week, to the trip to Florida and then getting out there and competing at a World Title. What a buzz!

Would I do it again?, in a minute. The 11th World Championships are in Hungary in 2013. My goal is to be there and so all of the pain and time commitment will come again soon. Maybe I’ll see a few more Sandy Point paddlers at the first trials in mid 2012.

Brett's Daily Blog from Tampa

Just completed out last day of training before the big races start the day after tomorrow. Tonite is the final team dinner and tomorrow the opening ceremony. Then the first races are on. We think we have done everything possible to put us right at the top of our game. The training results this week are looking good and the coaches are happy. Our times look pretty good. We have seen some of the competition and have to say they look pretty good to. Here’s hoping that we come out on top. Feedback from around town is that the Aus team are the best looking team going around. Pity there isn’t a gold medal for the “best dressed team”, we may have clinched it.

Day one of racing, 2000m races for all 3 divisions, Premier (20 to 40 yrs), Master (40 - 50 yrs) and Grand Masters (over 50 yrs). Still hot so a tough day of racing, each race takes about 10 minutes to run. 10 Minutes at a flat out pace of about 60 - 70 strokes per minute. Each team takes off at about 15sec intervals and so we race against the clock. The course is essentially a 500m course so three turns included in the race. These are also taken at flat out pace. Each Division entered a Men’s, a Women’s and a Mixed Team. Serge, our coach, did tell us that Australia's previous best results for the week of racing was at the last worlds which resulted in 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals. Results for Day one:-
Masters Women - Gold
Grand Masters Women - Silver
Masters Mixed - Bronze
Great result for the Aus Squad and only 1 medal away from equalling our best result and still 3 days to go.

Day two of racing, 1000m races for all 3 divisions. Each Division entered a Men’s, a Women’s and a Mixed Team. A duplicate of yesterday really, just shorter. This course a straight line, flat chat race. Serge pointed out that we should in pain after stoke 5 and feel that for the rest of the race. He was right. Results for Day two -
Masters Women - Silver
Masters Mixed - Silver
Masters 10s crew - Silver
Grand Masters Women - Silver
Prem Women - Bronze
We won more medals today than for whole regatta at the last worlds and takes our tally to 8 medals all up. By the way, the 1000m and 2000m races are not our thing. We rarely race these at all at home so a good result. The shorter 200m and 500m races are our best chance, we think. It looks like the technique that Aus DBF have adopted under Serge and the new National format of selecting the best paddlers from the National teams is paying off big time. The likely candidates are still strong, Canada is awesome, USA is strong, the Germans are big and tough, China and the Philippines are always hard and tomorrow brings 200m racing. More to the Aussie style. A much easier race distance but still going to be tough. Another race strategy, go as hard and fast as you can for 200m. Also called splash and dash. Still chasing that elusive medal, missed bronze by 2.38 seconds in the Men’s Open.

Day 4, 500m Mixed Team racing. This is the Premier event for the regatta and the toughest distance. It's about a 2 minute race giving it everything all the way and with a kick at the end. Tough going for everyone. The teams to beat are always Canada and the USA. Put in the mix the giant German team and the Czechs. We put in our best effort but just failed to make the 3 team final by seconds. A bit of a letdown but we all believe we did our best. A poor day for the Aus team with nothing to show for our efforts on the day. Tomorrow it's the 500m races for the Men's and Women's crews. Then, it's all over. The after party is planned for tomorrow night and we are expecting to have a drink or two. We've been off all alcohol for the last 15 days. A drink is going to go down well.

Last day of racing, 500m men’s event. Last chance to win a medal. We qualified for the Final after winning the repechage heat. Boat felt good and we were pleased with how this race went. We did feel good about our chances in the final. Up against Canada, USA and the Czechs. All strong teams and we knew it was going to be a tough race. It was a really close race with Canada in front. Only a second between 2nd and 4th but unfortunately for us we ran 4th yet again. We have decided to call ourselves the 4X4's, 4 races, four 4th places. Disappointing not to come away with a medal but putting it in perspective, we are the 4th best team in the world. Not too shabby. The women's team picked up another Silver and they are a fantastic crew. All up the Aussie team picked up 15 medals in all divisions. Our best ever result in a World Championship regatta. We also ran third in the world rankings behind Canada and USA. Not bad for a country with only 8,000 paddlers.

It's been a great journey with highs and lows. Lots of hard work but extremely rewarding. Had the chance to meet up with some great people who will remain friends for a long, long time. Some great memories to cherish and a wonderful experience. Our coach at his last speech made us a promise that at the next worlds in 2013 the GM men's team would win medals. He has kept every promise he has made since coming to Aus Dragon Boating over 2 years ago so we all have faith in his promise. Looks like I'll be backing up for another shot at an Aussie team in about 12 months time. Off to the after party and looking to have a roaring good time with a drink to boot. It’s been a while since I had a decent night out so it will be fun.

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