Independence Day Celebrated with Dragon Boats

The Dirty Oars paddled their way to victory at Lake Cornelia’s third annual dragon boat races on Sunday, July 6, which culminated a weekend of lakeside Independence Day activities.

“It’s fun just being able to go out and the lake and talk between the races,” said Oarsman Che Hanson. The team – made up of full-time and part-time Lake residents – has competed in the races for all three years. Victory brings bragging rights, a trophy oar, and the obligation to help load up the dragon boats afterward.

The Oars and five other teams – including the S.O.B.’s, Lower East Side, and the Dragon Slayers – raced multiple times throughout the day, two at a time, with their times adding together into a cumulative final score.  Each dragon-faced longboat has around twenty oars, a rudder, and a drumbeating coxswain.

The Flying Angels Abreast team took Clarionite Helen Hilpipre, 102, for a spin around the lake. Hilpipre reportedly considered going on one a part of her “bucket list.”

Sunday’s Lake Cornelia festivities followed Saturday’s Disney-themed boat parade and fireworks.

Read more about the weekend’s events – including the history of the dragon boats and the Badger Lake Dragon Boat Association – in the July 10 Monitor!

Wright County Monitor

P.O. Box 153
Clarion, IA 50525
Phone: 515-532-2871
Email: news@wrightcountymonitor.com

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