27th Annual
Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge
Saturday, June 3rd, 2023 – Frenchman’s Bay, Pickering
A Dragon Boat Canada Race Series Event!
New for 2023 – Small Crew racing! Race with 10 paddlers and prepare your small crews for racing at National and International competitions!
Sport divisions will follow all DBC race regulations including equal gender crew composition in the mixed division (10 male & 10 female paddlers)
Ontario’s first highly competitive dragon boat festival of the racing season expects to provide its usual sneak peek into the World’s fastest dragon boat club crews.
This regatta also features an extremely competitive and robust 24U-PS division. University crews should check out the special opportunity to race both in the 24U-PS and Sport Mixed divisions.
We are proud to host one of Canada’s most competitive annual regattas, the Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge, on June 3rd, 2023. Prominent clubs expected to attend include: Warriors, NDRC, True North Paddling Club, CSDC and PDBC.
For crews competing in the Sport Mixed division, the unique and hugely popular Championship Point System will return. The fastest 10 Sport Mixed crews will compete in a series of 3 championship races: 200m, 500m and 2km in length. These crews will be trying to garner the most championship points and secure the overall points title. The winner will be awarded the Oikawa Cup and receive a free entry into the 2022 Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge.
Featuring
- Dragon Boat Canada Race Series Regatta
- Dragon Boat Canada certified officiating crew
- Historically Ontario’s most competitive regatta
- Championship point system guaranteed to maximize value for sport division crews: 5 races over 3 distances
- Highly competitive 24U-PS division with value opportunity to race in both 24U-PS and sport mixed divisions
Event Details
Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge
Location
View site map and accomdations on the Location page.
Festival Parking
The Pickering Town Centre will be the primary parking lot of the Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge. FREE Shuttle Buses will transport athletes from the Pickering Town Centre Parking Lot to the race site.
- There is no parking on-site (Bruce Handscombe Park)
- Police and City By-Law officers will be patrolling the area and will enforce all city parking by-laws
- Vehicles in violation of parking by-laws risk being tagged and/or towed
Shuttle Bus Service
- The Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge provides FREE shuttle bus service from the Pickering Town Centre Parking Lot to the race course
- All vehicles are instructed to park at the Pickering Town Centre SOUTH EAST Parking Lot
- Pickering Town Centre SOUTH EAST Parking Lot can be found on the south side of the mall, near The Bay. Please use the address 1355 Kingston Road for navigation purposes and drive around to the back (south) of the mall. Please see the map attached.
- FREE Shuttle Bus Service will commence at 6:00am on Saturday and 7:00am on Sunday. (Buses will run every 15 minutes during peak arrival/departure times) Festival volunteers will be on-site to organize lineups according to the race schedule.
Pricing
| Category | # of Races | Before January 1 | Before April 1 | After April 1 |
| Sport Mixed Division | 3-4 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 | $1250.00 |
| Sport Women Division | 3-4 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 | $1250.00 |
| Sport Open Division | 3-4 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 | $1250.00 |
| 24U-PS Mixed Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| 24U-PS/Mixed Combo | 5-6 | $1350.00 | $1450.00 | $1550.00 |
| Recreation Mixed Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| Recreation Women Division/BCS Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| Recreation Open Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| Small Crew Mixed* | 3 | $700.00 | $750.00 | $800.00 |
| Small Crew Women* | 3 | $700.00 | $750.00 | $800.00 |
| Small Crew Men* | 3 | $700.00 | $750.00 | $800.00 |
*Please Note: Small Crew teams will race on Sunday, June 4th, 2023.
All teams are guaranteed to race 1x200m and 2x500m. Only the top 10 Sport Mixed teams and the top 5 Women’s & Open teams will compete in a 2000m final. All racing is based on a Championship Point System.
24U-PS/Mixed Combo crews will race in both the 24U-PS Division and the Mixed Division, with 1x500m heat, 2x200m final, 2x500m final and are eligible to compete in the 2000m final if they are among the top 10 fastest mixed crews.
Prices are listed in CAD and do not include tax.
Awards
Sport Mixed: Oikawa Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
24U-PS Mixed: University Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Rec Mixed: Tsuyuki Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Sport Women: Sport Women Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Sport Open: Farintosh Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Schedule
Race Format updated June 1, 2023
The official race format is an overview of the day's race progression, race statistics, and awards ceremonies.
Race Progression updated June 1, 2023
A detailed view of the day's races with crew names and lane numbers.
Race Format:
- All teams will race a 500m heat; the time from this race seeds you into your 200m final and your 500m final
- Only the top 10 Sport Mixed and top 5 Sport Women & Sport Open teams will compete in the 2000m final
Shuttle buses begin running to the park at 6:30am and the registration tent will open at 7:00am for team check-in. A team captain’s meeting will take place at 7:30am, followed by marshalling for the first race at approximately 7:45am.
Vendors
Are you interested in being a vendor at our event? We would love to have you!
Vendor fees are $200 (+HST) and all vendors receive:
- A 10x10 space in a prime area of the park
- Website & logo promotion on our Festival page
- Promotion through our team information bulletins
- The option to add a business card, promotional item or coupon to our team swag bags
Vendors who select to be Race Sponsors (for an additional $50) will also receive logo/website promotion on our race schedule (printed and online) and company promotion/announcements over the loud speaker throughout the festival.
*Please note: In order to best serve our participants, we reserve the right to turn down vendor applications if we feel as though the market is already covered in this area.
Questions?
Questions about this event? Need some help with registering? Send an email to katy.dunlop@alkame.ca
Pricing
| Category | # of Races | Before January 1 | Before April 1 | After April 1 |
| Sport Mixed Division | 3-4 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 | $1250.00 |
| Sport Women Division | 3-4 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 | $1250.00 |
| Sport Open Division | 3-4 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 | $1250.00 |
| 24U-PS Mixed Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| 24U-PS/Mixed Combo | 5-6 | $1350.00 | $1450.00 | $1550.00 |
| Recreation Mixed Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| Recreation Women Division/BCS Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| Recreation Open Division | 3 | $950.00 | $1050.00 | $1150.00 |
| Small Crew Mixed* | 3 | $700.00 | $750.00 | $800.00 |
| Small Crew Women* | 3 | $700.00 | $750.00 | $800.00 |
| Small Crew Men* | 3 | $700.00 | $750.00 | $800.00 |
*Please Note: Small Crew teams will race on Sunday, June 4th, 2023.
All teams are guaranteed to race 1x200m and 2x500m. Only the top 10 Sport Mixed teams and the top 5 Women’s & Open teams will compete in a 2000m final. All racing is based on a Championship Point System.
24U-PS/Mixed Combo crews will race in both the 24U-PS Division and the Mixed Division, with 1x500m heat, 2x200m final, 2x500m final and are eligible to compete in the 2000m final if they are among the top 10 fastest mixed crews.
Prices are listed in CAD and do not include tax.
Location
View site map and accomdations on the Location page.
Festival Parking
The Pickering Town Centre will be the primary parking lot of the Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge. FREE Shuttle Buses will transport athletes from the Pickering Town Centre Parking Lot to the race site.
- There is no parking on-site (Bruce Handscombe Park)
- Police and City By-Law officers will be patrolling the area and will enforce all city parking by-laws
- Vehicles in violation of parking by-laws risk being tagged and/or towed
Shuttle Bus Service
- The Pickering Dragon Boat Challenge provides FREE shuttle bus service from the Pickering Town Centre Parking Lot to the race course
- All vehicles are instructed to park at the Pickering Town Centre SOUTH EAST Parking Lot
- Pickering Town Centre SOUTH EAST Parking Lot can be found on the south side of the mall, near The Bay. Please use the address 1355 Kingston Road for navigation purposes and drive around to the back (south) of the mall. Please see the map attached.
- FREE Shuttle Bus Service will commence at 6:00am on Saturday and 7:00am on Sunday. (Buses will run every 15 minutes during peak arrival/departure times) Festival volunteers will be on-site to organize lineups according to the race schedule.
Schedule
Race Format updated June 1, 2023
The official race format is an overview of the day's race progression, race statistics, and awards ceremonies.
Race Progression updated June 1, 2023
A detailed view of the day's races with crew names and lane numbers.
Race Format:
- All teams will race a 500m heat; the time from this race seeds you into your 200m final and your 500m final
- Only the top 10 Sport Mixed and top 5 Sport Women & Sport Open teams will compete in the 2000m final
Shuttle buses begin running to the park at 6:30am and the registration tent will open at 7:00am for team check-in. A team captain’s meeting will take place at 7:30am, followed by marshalling for the first race at approximately 7:45am.
Awards
Sport Mixed: Oikawa Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
24U-PS Mixed: University Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Rec Mixed: Tsuyuki Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Sport Women: Sport Women Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Sport Open: Farintosh Cup
Medals will be awarded to first, second and third places.
Vendors
Are you interested in being a vendor at our event? We would love to have you!
Vendor fees are $200 (+HST) and all vendors receive:
- A 10x10 space in a prime area of the park
- Website & logo promotion on our Festival page
- Promotion through our team information bulletins
- The option to add a business card, promotional item or coupon to our team swag bags
Vendors who select to be Race Sponsors (for an additional $50) will also receive logo/website promotion on our race schedule (printed and online) and company promotion/announcements over the loud speaker throughout the festival.
*Please note: In order to best serve our participants, we reserve the right to turn down vendor applications if we feel as though the market is already covered in this area.
Questions?
Questions about this event? Need some help with registering? Send an email to katy.dunlop@alkame.ca