XN000022-1986-06-16 — Page 3

MONDAY, JUNE 16, 1986

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THOUSANDS WATCH VANCOUVER BOAT RACES

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THE FIRST ANNUAL VANCOUVER DRAGON BOAT RACES WERE HELD OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP WENT TO THE FALSE CREEK RACING CANOE CLUB.

THE EVENT, ORGANISED BY THE VANCOUVER CHINESE CULTURE CENTRE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HONG KONG PAVILION OF EXPO '96, ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS IN THE EXPO GROUND AND THE FALSE CREEK PARK.

DESPITE THE DRIZZLES AND OCCASIONAL DOWNPOURS, 30 TEAMS COMPETED IN THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVITIES - THE FIRST EVER HELD IN CANADA.

THE STARTING GUN FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE WENT OFF AT 3 PM ON SUNDAY AND THE FORCC TEAM WAS A CLEAR WINNER EVEN BEFORE REACHING THE MID-POINT OF THE 600-METRE COURSE,

THE TEAM WAS AWARDED THE HONG KONG CATHAY PACIFIC

GRAND CHAMPION CUP AND WILL FLY TO HONG KONG TO TAKE PART IN THE INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT RACES SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 21 AND 22.

IN THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR JOHN CHAN PRESENTED A SOUVENIR PLAQUE TO THE VANCOUVER CHINESE CULTURAL CENTRE IN APPRECIATION OF THEIR EFFORTS IN ORGANISING THE EVENT.

DR WAH LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, PLEDGED THAT THE DRAGON BOAT RACES WILL BE AN ANNUAL FEATURE IN VANCOUVER.

APART FROM DRAGON BOAT RACES, THERE WERE OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS INCLUDING LION DANCE, CHINESE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AND CHINESE FOLK DANCE.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE CUP WINNERS IN THE DRAGON BOAT RACES:

SING TAO CUP YEE MAH SOCIETY.

HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION CUP

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FALSE CREEK RACING CANOE CLUB;

THE MANDARIN CUP -

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LOTUS EATERS ;

THE CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE CUP

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YELLOW SHRUMARINE;

THE EMPIRE STEVEDORING CUP

THE HONG KONG BANK OF CANADA CUP

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ASPIRATION 86; AND

VANCOUVER FIREFIGHTERS UNION LOCAL 18

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