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The 2025 Dragon Boat AusChamps saw the Club Jervis Bay sponsored Mako Paddle Club not just compete, but captivate, as they tore up the water in the Senior A Open, Women’s, and Mixed categories—bringing home medals, memories, and more than a few legendary stories.
In true Mako style, the club embraced the championships with unity, resilience, and a touch of chaos. Whether it was Allie attempting to sneak her dog onto the boat or the grandstand erupting in “Mako! Mako!” chants, the club left an indelible mark on both the races and the atmosphere.
Senior A Women: Fast, Fierce, and Fiesty as Hell!
The Mako Senior A Women proved their speed and spirit were second to none. Clocking a blistering 500m time that was eight seconds faster than the Senior B gold medal winners, and a 200m that outpaced the same category by two seconds, the women firmly established Senior A as the championship’s most competitive division.
Chicki’s now-infamous, very adult-only rev-up speeches had the ladies firing on all cylinders (and maybe blushing a little). Their karaoke rendition of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best—alongside Hunter, leading 150 women in the marshalling tent—was one of the event’s most unforgettable moments of camaraderie.
Despite last-minute curveballs, including a reconfigured 2km lineup after a teammate ended up in the first aid tent, the women’s crew adapted on the fly. The ladies delivered powerhouse performances, proving why they’re one of the most respected squads on the water.
Opens: Four Blokes, Full Heart, and a Semi-Final Surge
With just four men onboard, Mako Open’s crew punched above their weight, powered by gutsy women and a fearless approach. They surged into the semis on both days with respectable times, drawing cheers from the crowd and praise from commentators for their explosive starts and refusal to back down.
It wasn’t about numbers—it was about heart. And Mako had plenty.
Mixed Mayhem, 2k Glory, and a Hobo loose in the Maternity Ward
The Mixed 200m Grand Final brought silver to the club while simultaneously delivering one of the most bizarre AusChamps stories to date. While the team battled it out on the course, their teammate, Hobo Glasson, was off in the maternity ward, leaving Angie to transport his gear home with two size 14 paddling shoes tied to the roof of her van and a mysterious stench trailing behind. The second official “baby Mako” was born that day—in more ways than one.
The wait lasted six days, and it was well worth it as the 2 K crew headed out for the penultimate battle around the 2 K course. Their run did not disappoint. In harsh and windy conditions, the little boat with the huge heart ran perfect lines, lifted time and time again and put down a run of the ages to win Mako’s first Auschamps gold medal in a tight battle with the slick ACCA crew. It wasn’t without a few nail-biting moments, as penalties and accidents had the Race Officials beavering away for over 15 minutes before the news was posted, and it was met with the screams of delight from the Mako masses prowling around the finish tower.
The emotion of the moment was best summed up by the Official AusChamps photographer, John Napper in his Facebook post to Mako:
“I was fortunate enough to be beside you when you found out the result… Your unbridled joy was infectious… Congratulations!”
Mako Moments
It wasn’t just medals—it was Mako moments that stole the show. Jess ran unofficial air traffic control at the 2km starts, loudly instructing boats over the actual starter. Bear, true to form, wiggled out of every sweeps briefing, leaving Jess to take the reins (again). Jac Smith, a legend on the drum, used her 2km downtime to make friends with every boat she passed.
Kez and Rob, stroking together for the first time, struck gold. Jane, thrown into a 2km stroke pair with Chicki, was told they worked well together and quipped, “F***, don’t tell Chicki that—she’ll want me to stroke with her again!”
And through it all, no one cared who was racing in which crew. Every medal was a Mako medal. It was a whole-club mentality—the kind that doesn’t just win races, it wins hearts.
Making Waves, Making History
With their fierce racing, iconic chants, and unforgettable energy, Mako Paddle Club put both their name – and their home club, Jervis Bay – firmly on the national map. Commentators took note, crowds took notice, and the dragon boating community won’t soon forget the club that raced hard, laughed harder, and proved once and for all that they are, indeed, simply the best.
Neckwear
Mako won not only its very first AusChamps podium finish, but was crowned the Senior A Mixed 2k 10’s Champion. Here’s the tally:
- Premier Opens 10s 2000m Silver
- Premier Opens 10s 200m Bronze
- Premier 20s Ladies 2000m Bronze
- Premier Mixed 2000m Bronze
- Premier Ladies 200m Bronze
- Senior A Mixed 200 silver
- Senior A Mixed 500 silver
- Senior A Mixed 2km gold
- Senior A Women 500 bronze
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