Chadwell Heath Dragons Strike Gold with Outstanding Triple Medal Success

Emdad Rahman

Chadwell Heath Dragons produced another memorable display of power, teamwork and determination as they claimed an impressive two Gold medals and one Silver at the British Dragon Boat Association competition in Milton Keynes.

Competing against some of the country’s strongest crews, the Dragons demonstrated why they continue to establish themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting community dragon boat clubs.

Every race showcased discipline, strength and exceptional teamwork, with paddlers delivering outstanding performances from start to finish.

The team powered to Gold in both the Open 200m and Open 500m events, producing commanding displays of speed and precision. They then narrowly missed completing a remarkable hat-trick of victories, finishing just 0.2 seconds behind the winners in the fiercely contested S12 Men’s race to secure a well deserved Silver medal.

Results
🥇 Open 200m Champions
🥇 Open 500m Champions
🥈 S12 Men’s Race (missing Gold by just 0.2 seconds)

Success on the water is built long before race day. Months of early morning training sessions, technical preparation and unwavering commitment were rewarded with another outstanding performance that reflected the dedication of every paddler, coach and volunteer involved with the club.

Team Captain Afzal Hussain praised the squad’s commitment and togetherness, highlighting the sacrifices made throughout the season and the unity that continues to drive Chadwell Heath Dragons forward.

Hussain commented: “This result is a reward for the commitment every single paddler has shown throughout the season. We train hard, support one another and race as one unit.

“Winning two Gold medals and narrowly missing a third by just 0.2 seconds shows the character, determination and belief within this squad. I couldn’t be prouder of every member of Chadwell Heath Dragons. We will celebrate this achievement, but we’ll also keep working hard because we know there is even more to come.”

Team Manager Arakoth Chowdhury also congratulated the paddlers, describing the results as a reflection of the club’s strong culture, hard work and shared ambition.

He paid tribute to every member of the squad for competing with humility, determination and pride while continuing to inspire the next generation of paddlers.

Chowdhury added: “These medals reflect far more than what happened on race day. They are the result of months of preparation, dedication and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.

^Every paddler, coach, volunteer and supporter has played an important role in this success. I’m especially pleased to see our younger paddlers developing so well, as they represent the future of our club. We remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy dragon boating, build friendships and achieve success together.”

Special recognition goes to the club’s youth and junior paddlers, who represented Chadwell Heath Dragons with tremendous enthusiasm, maturity and professionalism. Their performances demonstrated that the future of the club is in very safe hands.

The club extends sincere thanks to the British Dragon Boat Association, race officials, volunteers, event organisers, safety teams and supporting helms Pete Li, Wayne Jones and Alex for ensuring another superbly organised competition. Congratulations are also extended to every competing club for contributing to a fantastic day of competitive racing and outstanding sportsmanship.

Dragon boating continues to grow because it welcomes people of all backgrounds and abilities, promoting fitness, inclusion, mental wellbeing and lifelong friendships. Chadwell Heath Dragons embodies those values, bringing communities together through sport while striving for excellence on the national stage.

Another competition, another exceptional performance and another proud day for Chadwell Heath Dragons. With confidence growing and momentum building, the Dragons continue to prove that success is achieved through commitment, resilience and working as one team.

The future looks exceptionally bright.