07/08/2026
Sunday racing at Cooloola Dragon Boat Club Inc regatta saw the return of the always-popular Costume Parade, with clubs once again showcasing incredible creativity. From Vikings and Rock 'n' Rollers to Jellyfish and Christmas in July, the competition was fierce.
Redcliffe transformed into a buzzing hive with our BUMBLE BEES🐝🐝🌻🌻 theme – Tim's Drones and Tim's Queens! Complete with striped shirts, bee antennae, a Queen Bee wearing her tiara, buzzing kazoos and our very own beekeeper Tim keeping the swarm under control, we certainly created plenty of attention.
Our tent was buzzing with everything bee-related! Along with the decorations, we had small jars of honey from our very own beekeeper Tim's hives, which flew off the table in no time. Members from other clubs arrived at the Hive hoping there were a few jars left.
Our efforts earned Redcliffe 2nd Prize and $100, 💲narrowly missing out on top spot. Congratulations to SCDA Mavericks on taking out first place for the third year in a row with their "Rock the Boat" theme and to the other clubs on their fantastic outfits.
With judging based on costumes, tent decorations, interaction during the parade and even how crews look while paddling, the standard continues to rise every year, making the competition tougher than ever.
Conditions improved for the 200m racing, with 9 clubs competing. Redcliffe fielded a crew in every division and finished with 1st Place in Division B (Tim's Queens) and 2nd Place in Division A (Tim's Drones). The colourful costumes made for a fantastic spectacle on the water.
A big thank you to Christine Godsmark and Leanne Tu from Coomera Dragons Australia for joining the Redcliffe Red Dragons over the weekend. Judging by the huge smiles😁 on their faces, they certainly embraced the fun—first dressing up in red tutus and tiaras for Saturday's Diamond Dash, then transforming into members of the Redcliffe hive in their yellow and black stripes on Sunday.
They fitted in perfectly with the rest of the Redcliffe crew and were wonderful sports throughout the weekend. We hope you both had as much fun as we did and look forward to paddling with you again soon!
Overall, it was a rewarding and enjoyable weekend for the Redcliffe Red Dragons. There were plenty of smiles, laughs and memorable moments both on and off the water, with great racing, strong team spirit and plenty of opportunities for members to bond.
Congratulations to everyone who represented the club over the weekend. Your enthusiasm, teamwork and club spirit were on full display, both on and off the water. A fantastic effort by all and a great way to kick off the regatta season. If this weekend is anything to go by, we're looking forward to an another exciting and successful season ahead. Go Redcliffe Red Dragons!🐉💪
Now the countdown begins to next year's Costume Parade. The standard keeps getting higher, so it's time to put those thinking caps on and start planning our next award-winning theme!
DRONES
QUEENS