Dragon Boat club on course for Queen's Jubilee

By Rob Virtue on January 20, 2012 1:14 PM |

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Physical preparedness in 2012 is not only necessary for the Olympics. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will also require a tip-top physique - at least for one collection of water fanatics.

The 60th anniversary of the Queen's reign means a relaxing four-day bank holiday weekend for most but a tough marathon for a select few.

Among those taking part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant from Barnes to Poplar are the Thames Dragons based at Royal Albert Dock.

The group's captain Peter Li said: "The Queen's Jubilee will be a real highlight.

"I was watching news about the pageant and thought I'd like us to be a part of it. That's before our national body was approached by the organisers. By that time I'd already applied.We were notified on December 30 we had been approved. The real work begins here."

The group is taking part in a rehearsal in February before doing the real thing with 1,000 other boats on June 3.

The Thames Dragon Boat Club, which has around 50 members, has been going since 1993 when it was known as the Texaco Dragons, and comprised staff at the oil-firm once based in Westferry.

It used to practise in Millwall Dock before a decade later moving to Royal Albert Dock, coinciding with a name change.

The Dragons will have 16 members on board for the event, including Peter's 11-year-old son Daniel, the team's drummer.

Peter, 41, who has represented the UK, said the sport was a perfect way to keep fit.

"I used to work out in the gym but found it boring," he said. "I needed to have something to aim for.

"We train three times a week. It's a real social thing."

Go to thamesdragons.com and thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org