Nine-year-old Izzy Gallon from St Neots became the darling of the British Dragon Boat Association League event at Albert Docks.
The youngest association member took to the drum for the first time in a competitive race with the ladies of Cambridgeshire Royals.
Izzy said: “When my dad told me I might be drumming a real race I was really excited but I was also a little bit nervous. It was much choppier than where we normally train and so I was a little bit scared. I was also nervous in case I messed up, but everybody was really nice.”
The Royals once again proved that they can keep up with the best. They finished third in the Minor Final and claimed a seventh overall placing for
the 200m and then a second in the Minor Cup Final before emerging with an overall placing of sixth in 500m races.
Team manager Paul Saywell said: “The highlight of my day was the 500m final against the best crews in this country and beating the 2014 premier champions Amathus.”
The Royals will next be racing at the British Dragon Boat Association National League finals, held over the weekend of 20/21 September at the Nottingham Water Sports Centre.
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