MR500 2011

[PK]

"Also wondering why there is so much emphasis on Tertiary events? Surely winning the Open is more prestigious? Or is it just age-old rivalry between the unis?"

This is the nature of the dragon boat scene in Singapore.  There are lots of sub-categories, and for most teams the prestige of winning their category is higher than that of the Open.  That's where the bragging rights are among peers.  Sometimes good crews get put in the Open, sometimes that's the training event for new people while the A Boat focues on the main event.  Depends on the team.

Corporate teams care about the inter-corporate first, even though some of them (HP in particular) seem at least capable of contesting the Open.

Expat teams care about the expat event (when there is one) first, even though several can medal and have medaled at the Open, including winning it.

School teams care about the tertiary and POLITE events first, even though many can and have medaled in the Open.

There are only a handful of teams that don't have "their own" cartegory, like SAFRA, SAFSA, SPC, Mountbatten (not sure if they are still a team), Vuvuzela, PLK (actually, there is some community club event that they can be in I think?).

We should have nothing but a men's, women's and mixed event - only.  But only IF they could manage to make a one day race of it.  Other countries can do that with many more teams.  Using a whole weekend for a race like we always do here in SG sucks.  We need to scrap all or most of the special categories for at least some races.  Get it all over on a Saturday and see who's first without if's, and's or but's.

masters series

[amdragon]

...which is now defunct.

And which was also a serious of four races (albeit, short and focused ones where we could be done by 11am) IN ADDITION to the existing schedule.  SAVA Sprints, River Regatta - these could each easily be Saturday events by trimming the event categories.  SDBF, ok, cool, all weekend long with Tertiary, and International-Business, and Corporate and Inter-Club and Inter-Civil Service and all that stuff.  Even though it's back at crappy Bedok this year.

[dragon08]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCbZA03-Wy0