In a nutshell:
17th Lingen Dragon Boat Cup on the Dortmund-Ems Canal with 16 teams
ROSEN MatROSEN represented for the first time with two teams
Second place in the category 'Blitz-Drachen' and costume prize
Many thanks to all colleagues who were on site on Saturday to cheer for us
"Hey ho, let's go!" resounded our tried and tested battle cry on the Dortmund-Ems Canal last Saturday. Finally again! After all, our company sports group 'Dragon Boat' had to do without the event of the year, the Lingen Dragon Boat Cup, for three years due to Corona. The motivation of our colleagues was even greater than the last years, so that we were able to send two teams with a total of 32 paddlers plus helmsman and drummer to the start for the first time. Thus we were the group with the largest number of participants on the race day and were able to celebrate great successes together. The team ROSEN MatROSEN 1 won the cup for the 2nd place in the group 'Blitz-Drachen' and together we continued the tradition as a team and got the prize for the best costume.
Meeting at Hogwarts
On Saturday morning, 34 colleagues from various departments met at Hogwarts or rather at the Dortmund-Ems canal. But before the exciting races on the water began, the focus was first on fine-tuning the outfits. After all, an elaborate group costume is a tradition with our dragon boat team. This year, thanks to the 'Harry Potter' theme, things were particularly magical. Once the Hogwarts pennants were attached to our tent, the wands had found their owners, the faces of Voldemort and Snape were palely made up, and our arms, legs, and faces were full of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff tattoos or dark marks and Deathly Hallows, it was time for breakfast. This held a special surprise for everyone, because there were Hogwarts muffins with hidden fillings in the colors red, green, blue and yellow. What's so special about them? We don't have to explain it to the Harry Potter fans among you, for everyone else: The treats not only looked great and tasted delicious, but at the same time acted as our sorting hat that determines which of the four houses you belong in.
Swap Brooms for Paddles
Then it soon started and the ROSEN MatROSEN 1 had to exchange their Quidditch brooms for paddles to compete in their first race. Excitedly, the team paddled towards the starting line, where the organizer welcomed us through a megaphone with the words 'Expelliarmus'. The boats were aligned, the starting signal sounded and the Dragon Boat Cup 2023 had immediately begun for us. Yelled at by Voldemort and steered by Dumbledore, our colleagues delivered an exciting race, which ended at the finish line under loud cheers of the ROSEN MatROSEN 2. Our boat did not cross the finish line first, but with a good time, so that the ROSEN MatROSEN 1 ended up in the second strongest group 'Blitz-Drachen' for the next races. After all, the performance in the first race determines the grouping for the further races.
2nd Place in the Quidditch Championship
Next up were the ROSEN MatROSEN 2, who scored a terrific victory in the first race. True to the motto: Don't let the muggles get you down, our second team reached the 'Mecker' Bridge, which marked the finish line as it does every year, with a large lead over the competing boat. In the end, the measured time was enough for a division into the third group, in which our team unfortunately lost the next two races head to head very narrowly – with a few hundredths of a second gap. Not the result we had hoped for, but that couldn't take anything away from the good mood. After all, there was another ROSEN team for which everyone was cheering together. Loudly. With a victory in the second race and a narrow defeat in the final, the ROSEN MatROSEN 1 achieved second place overall in their group ranking. They were proud to receive a trophy for their achievement at the final award ceremony.
House Cup for the Best Costume
As a special highlight, all ROSEN paddlers went together on the metaphorical winner's podium at the end. All 16 participating teams had voted for the best costume and when the result was announced, our dragon boat team broke out in loud cheers. With another victory in the costume ranking, the creativity of our dragon boat team was repeatedly rewarded. :-) So Hogwarts students and teachers, the principal as well as the dark lord, a house elf and a gamekeeper had a lot to celebrate and ended the day together – including a well-deserved bath in the canal. Given the temperatures, a welcome cooling off.
We are very happy about the successes, but especially the great participation this year! We not only had a great race day, but also many fun training sessions that brought us all closer together. Thank you for that, we are already looking forward to next year! A big thank you also goes to the colleagues who were at the Dortmund-Ems Canal to cheer on and who diligently kept their fingers crossed!