Golden Lavy keen to make a splash

05 October 2006

DRAGON boating is a rapidly growing sport with origins in the Far East. Competitor Lavy Ohayon, who lives in Barking, is determined to increase its profile in England.

The 27-year-old first climbed into a dragon boat four years while working in Nottingham but moved to London to join one of the top UK outfits, Thames Dragon Boat Racing Team, with whom he won a gold medal at the National Championships.

Lavy professes his love for a sport that has not been given much in the way of coverage over the years, but he enthusiastically insists that can all change.

"Each boat holds 20 paddlers who sit in pairs and use a Canadian style oar," he explains. "A drummer keeps time at the back while the helm steers and keeps control. The boats race over a distance of 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 metres and regattas follow the same programme as rowers so that a day of racing will consist of a heat, a semi final and hopefully a final."

The sport will be on demonstration at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and appearing on that stage is a goal Lavy passionately pursues. His dedication has earned him a position in the Great Britain team and the right to take his place among the sport's elite.

He would love nothing more than to appear in the Far East in two year's time representing his country. "I have always enjoyed racing," he said. "The sport takes me up down the UK to places I would not normally visit. Making the Great Britain Team took a lot of training with regards to waking up at 5.30am, cycling from my home in Barking to the Royal Albert Docks and getting onto the water before and after work.

"The hardest time is when you're taking your kayak out and it a bitter December morning and still dark. By the time you get back in to the pontoon your hands are frozen and there is a thin layer of ice on your boat but getting into the mens' team and representing your country makes it all worth while."

His and his Great Britain team-mates'performance at the European Dragon Boat Championships on the Vlatava River in Prague recently saw them claim a fourth place finish in a gruelling mens' open team race against a high-class field.

It was an experience that whetted his appetite. Twelve countries took part, including various teams from Great Britain from junior teams through to the veterans. The event comprised over 1,000 athletes, some of whom are World and Olympic canoe and kayak champions, but rather than faze him, it was a challenge that excited him.

"We were only edged out into fourth place by 0.2 seconds in the closest and most exciting race of the weekend," Lavy enthused. Great Britain finished just 0.45 seconds behind a victorious Czech Republic team.

"Eighty paddlers, four drummers and four helmsmen came through the line in a blanket finish. It was a sight to behold," he adds with all the enthusiasm of a kid in a sweetshop.

The following day, Great Britain competed in the 500m race, "all the more hungry for success" following their display in the open event.

"We did fantastically well to knock out the current world champions Russia in the semi-finals," Lavy explains, whose team went on to hold off the Czech's fierce challenge and win the silver. "Inspired by our success, the team flew out of the blocks and were only beaten by an impressive Slovakian team, who took gold."

With unadulterated passion and determination, it might not be too long before Lavy makes an indelible mark on a sport continuing to grow. His willpower, and that of others, may drive dragon boat racing to take its place among the elite sports before too long also.