NSW Corporate Games - 2008
Sunday, 16th of March 7AM --- an early start for the IBM Sev 1 Dragon Boat team to head out to the Penrith Regatta Centre to compete in the 2008 NSW Corporate Games. Bleary eyed, they straggled in one by one, some fuelled by a nutritious Macca's breakfast on the way. The cobwebs were quickly disposed of however, with a fast and furious round of star jumps in a warm up led by the ever enthusiastic Ingrid van Uden.
The proud owners of squeaky clean new uniforms, the return to the IBM Blue and White exuded style (and hopefully speed) both on and off the water. As the IBM Sev 1 team, strutted their stuff down to the marshalling area all was a twitter...... It could have been the hot new look of the dragon boat season, the size of our engine room, or possibly the animal like growling noises emanating from Scott Le to psych out the competition. Enough said, IBM meant business!
Loading up into the boat, Lake Penrith could be Lake Placid of another kind. Not a sea creature from the deep -- but mud, reeds, and who knows what else, what obstacles would mean that we had our work cut out for us: it would be a hard slog to pull through that water and make it first across the finishing line.
Are you ready? Tension. With One, Two, Three, long and deep strokes we parted the waters, not unlike Moses to the Red Sea. Off to a great start, the IBM Sev 1 team was in fine form despite a handicap of only 16 rowers versus the usual 20! IBM Sev 1 never to be defeated, brought it home in the face of adversity against Diabetes Australia, DWS and Integral Energy to win their first heat in a matter of 57.3 seconds. The win set the scene for the next two heats to come, obliterating the competition to finish first in all 3 heats and paving the way to a place in the semi finals.
The IBM Sev 2 team arrived around lunch time to find the Sev 1 team in the throes of relaxation after their successes. Some could be found around the lunch table, others in burrows in an attempt to avoid the heat of the midday sun. The most popular relaxation technique of the day was power naps, with Jason Ng setting the record at 2 hours until the semi finals.
As the temperature sky rocketed with the sun high in the sky, so did the enthusiasm of the Sev 2 team. Keen and eager off the back of Sev 1's wins, it was time for Sev 2's chances of glory. Battling the murky waters and the competitors Dimension Data, Alacatel-Lucent and Airlite, it was with precise timing and power that brought Sev 2 across the finishing line in an accomplished 3rd place. All gave 110% and 3rd place followed suit for the next 2 heats. The disappointment on the near miss of a place in the semi finals was readily rectified with icy cold cans all round.
With a now even more ebullient cheer squad in tow, the IBM Sev 1 team having watered and rested, stroked their way to the starting line for the semi finals. Life in the fast lane didn't prove enough for the IBM Sev 1 team. Despite a great start and a race plan that just built from strength to strength , finishing 3rd in the semi finals meant just missing out on the major finals but guaranteed entry into the minor finals.
It was a quick swing round to the bank to disembark, refuel the engine, only minutes to spare, hop straight back on the water. With not a whole lot left in the tank, IBM Sev 1 dug deep to muster everything they had for the final race of the day in the minor finals. A great start boosted spirits and gave the Sev 1 team a good lead but the competition was not far from sight. In the peripherals, Dimension Data were creeping up to steal the lead. It could have been the new uniforms that kept us cool, calm and collected under the pressure, but more than likely, every single person on that boat dug it in deep and hard and gave every single ounce of energy they had left to drive it home. The timing and the power brought IBM Sev 1 team first across the finish line in a nail biting finish only milliseconds away from the competition at a close 58.53 to Dimension Data's 58.82.
With 3 cheers for everyone in sight including the sweeps, the drummer and all the other crews, it marked an end to a great day of team work on the water and time for the fun to begin. In keeping with tradition, celebrations were held at Lone Star where it was steaks all round to refuel those tired guns. The hard work for the day was done, and although we had no bling to bring home, the memories and the steaks, filled us to contentment.
We had a fun filled and victorious day and look forward to next year, hopefully getting some more IBMers on board and on to more wins!
IBM Team Sev 1's:
Mark Czajkowski, Wendy Yuen, Anne Wilkes, Ingrid van Uden, Sian Summers, Tony Farrell, Eizac Chee, Wendy Lo, John Carroll, Danielle Toon, Mark van Uden, Scott Le, Deborah Date-Chong, Shin Yee Chow, Melvin Ng, Frank Arraiza, Mark Azevedo, Jason Ng
IBM Team Sev 2's:
Mitch Seeto, Michelle Stot, Sophia Poulus, Jiahui Lok, Julie Mungomery, Kathleen Javalla, Faye Chen, Will Bhatnagar, Sean Dunbar, Kil Sun Shim, Eric Wong, Richard Wilcox, Jenny Ohearn, Phong Voung, Hanh Nguyen
If you'd like to get involved, please email Julie Mungomery (juliemgy@au1.ibm.com) for details and information about training sessions. Or check out our website www.ibmdragons.com.au We'd love to see you on the water!
Article by Sian Summers
The proud owners of squeaky clean new uniforms, the return to the IBM Blue and White exuded style (and hopefully speed) both on and off the water. As the IBM Sev 1 team, strutted their stuff down to the marshalling area all was a twitter...... It could have been the hot new look of the dragon boat season, the size of our engine room, or possibly the animal like growling noises emanating from Scott Le to psych out the competition. Enough said, IBM meant business!
Loading up into the boat, Lake Penrith could be Lake Placid of another kind. Not a sea creature from the deep -- but mud, reeds, and who knows what else, what obstacles would mean that we had our work cut out for us: it would be a hard slog to pull through that water and make it first across the finishing line.
Are you ready? Tension. With One, Two, Three, long and deep strokes we parted the waters, not unlike Moses to the Red Sea. Off to a great start, the IBM Sev 1 team was in fine form despite a handicap of only 16 rowers versus the usual 20! IBM Sev 1 never to be defeated, brought it home in the face of adversity against Diabetes Australia, DWS and Integral Energy to win their first heat in a matter of 57.3 seconds. The win set the scene for the next two heats to come, obliterating the competition to finish first in all 3 heats and paving the way to a place in the semi finals.
The IBM Sev 2 team arrived around lunch time to find the Sev 1 team in the throes of relaxation after their successes. Some could be found around the lunch table, others in burrows in an attempt to avoid the heat of the midday sun. The most popular relaxation technique of the day was power naps, with Jason Ng setting the record at 2 hours until the semi finals.
As the temperature sky rocketed with the sun high in the sky, so did the enthusiasm of the Sev 2 team. Keen and eager off the back of Sev 1's wins, it was time for Sev 2's chances of glory. Battling the murky waters and the competitors Dimension Data, Alacatel-Lucent and Airlite, it was with precise timing and power that brought Sev 2 across the finishing line in an accomplished 3rd place. All gave 110% and 3rd place followed suit for the next 2 heats. The disappointment on the near miss of a place in the semi finals was readily rectified with icy cold cans all round.
With a now even more ebullient cheer squad in tow, the IBM Sev 1 team having watered and rested, stroked their way to the starting line for the semi finals. Life in the fast lane didn't prove enough for the IBM Sev 1 team. Despite a great start and a race plan that just built from strength to strength , finishing 3rd in the semi finals meant just missing out on the major finals but guaranteed entry into the minor finals.
It was a quick swing round to the bank to disembark, refuel the engine, only minutes to spare, hop straight back on the water. With not a whole lot left in the tank, IBM Sev 1 dug deep to muster everything they had for the final race of the day in the minor finals. A great start boosted spirits and gave the Sev 1 team a good lead but the competition was not far from sight. In the peripherals, Dimension Data were creeping up to steal the lead. It could have been the new uniforms that kept us cool, calm and collected under the pressure, but more than likely, every single person on that boat dug it in deep and hard and gave every single ounce of energy they had left to drive it home. The timing and the power brought IBM Sev 1 team first across the finish line in a nail biting finish only milliseconds away from the competition at a close 58.53 to Dimension Data's 58.82.
With 3 cheers for everyone in sight including the sweeps, the drummer and all the other crews, it marked an end to a great day of team work on the water and time for the fun to begin. In keeping with tradition, celebrations were held at Lone Star where it was steaks all round to refuel those tired guns. The hard work for the day was done, and although we had no bling to bring home, the memories and the steaks, filled us to contentment.
We had a fun filled and victorious day and look forward to next year, hopefully getting some more IBMers on board and on to more wins!
IBM Team Sev 1's:
Mark Czajkowski, Wendy Yuen, Anne Wilkes, Ingrid van Uden, Sian Summers, Tony Farrell, Eizac Chee, Wendy Lo, John Carroll, Danielle Toon, Mark van Uden, Scott Le, Deborah Date-Chong, Shin Yee Chow, Melvin Ng, Frank Arraiza, Mark Azevedo, Jason Ng
IBM Team Sev 2's:
Mitch Seeto, Michelle Stot, Sophia Poulus, Jiahui Lok, Julie Mungomery, Kathleen Javalla, Faye Chen, Will Bhatnagar, Sean Dunbar, Kil Sun Shim, Eric Wong, Richard Wilcox, Jenny Ohearn, Phong Voung, Hanh Nguyen
If you'd like to get involved, please email Julie Mungomery (juliemgy@au1.ibm.com) for details and information about training sessions. Or check out our website www.ibmdragons.com.au We'd love to see you on the water!
Article by Sian Summers
IBM Dragons in Action