By reader Jasmine Seah

NJC at CCWC

NJC in in boat 4 goes neck and neck with the Russians in boat 2. (Photo © Han Wee Fong)

At the recent 6th Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in Penang, Malaysia in early August, the National Junior College (NJC) Canoe & Dragon Boat Team clinched six gold medals and two silver medals in the junior (Under-18) categories. NJC rowers managed to beat, and in the Mixed and Women categories, dominate competitors hailing from New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, Russia and Germany. This is NJC's first appearance at this prestigious international competition, a bi-annual event organized by the International Dragon Boat Federation.

The highlight of the Junior events was the contest for the top position between the NJC boys and their Russian counterparts, FESTU-CCDUSSH. NJC won the first match up in the 2000m, beating them by more than 15 seconds. However the Russians came back strong in the 200m and 500m events, demonstrating the Russian capability in short distance races. Nevertheless, consistently holding the top two positions in all Junior events is something that all NJCians, and Singaporeans, would be proud of.

NJC's haul in CCWC should not surprise local rowing enthusiasts as they are well known in the local rowing fraternity for their consistently strong performances. In fact, their timing in the 2000m Junior Mixed Race was on par with that of the 3rd and 4th placed teams of the Adult categories in the CCWC and the Asian Dragon Boat Championship 2008.

The NJC Canoeing Team total medal haul and achievements at the 6th CCWC:
Junior Mixed 2000m – Gold
Junior Open 2000m - Gold
Junior Mixed 500m – Gold
Junior Women 500m - Gold
Junior Men 500m - Silver
Junior Mixed 200m - Gold
Junior Women 200m - Gold
Junior Men 200m - Silver
(Junior category: under 18 on 1 Jan 2008)