Held over the long weekend, 11 Hunter River members combine with paddlers from Grafton, Coffs Coast, Camden Haven and  Flamin’ Dragons Clubs to make a composite team to enter the 18km marathon race.

In an amazing effort the team finished second out of 10 teams, with just four men compared with most boat’s 10, and was just two minutes behind Penrith.

Club spokesperson Irene Hemsworth said it was a test of endurance.

“On the homeward leg we encountered an uncommon rough patch when a huge wake (from a moving houseboat) swamped our boat putting our ‘engine room’ paddlers out of action while they bailed,” Hemsworth said.

“The last 5km was tough for some of us but we maintained our strategy and pushed through the pain, and although we knew we were second in our heat we had to wait until the presentation on Sunday to find out that we had beaten the previous heat on time, with only four men.”

The women’s team also qualified for the 200m sprints finals and finished fourth in a photo finish despite being one paddler short all day.

Hemsworth said a number of club members were cancer survivors and four took part in the Cancer Survivors’ race and a moving tribute following.

“We have two paddlers Fiona Lyon and Margaret Beckett competing in the 2018 International Breast Cancer Participatory Dragon Boat Festival in Florence, Italy in July,” she said

Anyone aged 12 and over can join the club at any time. Phone 0404 468 433 if you’re interested in having a go.