Deputy Mayor dots the eye of Henley Dragons’ new boat

THE riverside was filled with dragons and amazed spectators during the ceremony to awaken the Henley Dragons’ new boat last week.

Henley Dragons, who are part of the Eyot Centre in Henley, performed an ancient ceremony to bring good luck and preparation to the boat.

Joined by Deputy Mayor, Kellie Hinton, and the Maidenhead Eagle and Claw Kung Fu School, the ceremony introduced audiences to the traditional way of Chinese Dragon Boating.

The ceremony included the painting of the dragon boat’s eyes, drums, dancing and incense burning. 

The ceremony not only blessed and cleansed the area for competition, but also for spectators and competitors.  It is considered bad luck to paddle or race in a dragon boat that has not been properly awakened or has its eyes closed.

Passersby stopped and marvelled at the animated dragon costumes worn by the Kung Fu School, which was also accompanied by two drums, a mascot dressed in a yellow cape, and a lettuce sacrifice to the Chinese gods.

Cat Cassell, captain of Henley Dragons, believed it was important to bring this tradition to Henley. Cassell said: “It is for good fortune for competition, it has always been a tradition for our new boats to be blessed in this way.

“We have newer members here today that have not experienced the notion of awakening the dragon, and some who have seen this before, it is very important to us to have a blessed and lucky boat.

“Last year this tradition did bring us luck, we were national champions and have had some our of team go international, which has been great.”

Master Julian Dale explained the ceremony to the crowd and ordered deputy mayor Hinton to paint the dot on the head of the dragon on the boat with red Chinese paint. Captain Cassell was instructed to stick incense on to the dragon’s head to cleanse the area.

Master Dale said: “Once this is done, the dragon is alive, and the crew will need to charge across the river and back to bring life into the boat.

“You must pay respect to the dragon, as the dragon can give and take away luck. You can interact with the dragons, by stroking and petting them, but no smacking because it will bite.”

Anyone aged 12 and up are welcome at Henley Dragons where members can paddle competitively and train twice a week.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Evie Hadfield, 15, from Wargrave, said: “It’s brilliant, it has taught me a lot, I am not used to team sports, and it has allowed me to make loads of friends, which you do not always get in sport.

“For the past two years I have been part of the team, as soon as I turned the minimum age of 12, I started, and now at 15 I still love it.

“One day I just saw the team on the river, and it just drew me in.

“I love the competitive side of the Henley Dragons, it unleashes something out of me that once I get on the water, nothing else matters. I get a big adrenaline rush, which is what drives me.”

Jack Hawkes, 24, from Station Road, Henley, who joined the club just after the covid pandemic, said “I first decided to go and investigate with my family, to see what the Dragons were about and ever since them I have had an infallible relationship with dragon boats.

“Every other team sport like football or basketball has individual roles in the team, but in dragon boating there is no individuality, we are solid teammates and friends.”