Harbour tests world's best paddlers

Victoria Harbour might seem like a world away from Germany's Neckar River, but the Neckardrachen Heilbronn dragon boat team felt very much at home at the Club Crew World Championships that ended yesterday.

The crack German outfit, who race as the Boeckingen Canoeing Club back home, finished as one of the most successful overseas crews in the five-day long championships.

Neckardrachen Heilbronn ended the meeting with six gold, four silver and three bronze medals, but the success came as no surprise to team manager Uwe Muller, who saluted his 100-plus squad.

'We have always been a very strong canoeing club in Germany,' said Muller of his outfit, who are based near Stuttgart. 'We are 30-time German champions and have a 104-year history. We put the same enthusiasm, team spirit, hard work, and commitment to dragon boat racing.'

Competing for the second time in Asia after picking up three gold medals in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, six years ago, Muller said Victoria Harbour was a challenge to his crew.

'We train in Neckardrachen which is flat water, nothing like the waves and currents that we had to endure here over this past week,' he said. 'This is the first time we have raced in Hong Kong. The harbour was very difficult for us, so I am very happy we have done well.

'We enjoyed our stay here. This is the right place to host a world championship. It's perfect. We love the Asian culture.'