On June 9 and 10, the OWLS Dragonflies competed in the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association Dragon Boat Races on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. The Flies had a great day on Saturday, earning the best possible score of 2 points by finishing first in Rounds 1 and 2. On Sunday, the Flies started the day seeded 3rd out of 22 women’s teams based on points and combined race times from Saturday.

Quarterfinals were a tough race because the Flies drew lane 4, and it has a tricky current that pulls the boat off course and requires more steering, which creates drag. Racing next to tough competition, lane 4 was no match for the Flies who finished in third place, posted the fastest time for a women’s team from lane 4 during the quarterfinal round, and advanced to semifinals.

In semifinals, the Flies caught fire and, for a third time, finished in first place at the 2012 Portland Rose Festival Races. Finals were decided by a margin of less than 3 ½ seconds between the four boats in a double photo finish. At the line, the Flies captured the flag with a time of 2:57:01 to become your 2012 Women’s Division I Bronze Medal Winners.

Special thanks to our coach, Laura Ricker, generous sponsors, and OWLS friends who came out to watch the races. The OWLS Dragonflies will race locally again in the Portland Dragon Boat Race held on September 8 and 9 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, so please save-the-date and come see the Flies in action.

I promised you a photo finish. In a double photo finish, OWLS Dragonflies take third to become your 2012 Women's Division I Bronze Medal Winners at the Rose Festival Races.

2:57:08, 2:57:01, 2:53:99, 2:53:87... Awards ceremony up next.

With a time of 2:55:09, the Flies finished first in Semifinals to advance to the Final round in Heat 83 at 3:36 p.m.

Go Flies!

Grab a picnic and sunscreen on your way to the race. Semifinals promise to be exciting and you might even see some photo finishes.

We would love to hear from our fans who cannot make it out today in the comments.

Tough water! OWLS Dragonflies took third in a hard fought race to advance to Semifinals.

Fastest time in lane 4 for a women's team today. Next up, heat 70 or 71. Stay tuned!

We're seeded 3rd (out of 22)! We race in Quarterfinals Heat 53 at 9:39 a.m. with Dragon Ladies, Tsunami Sisters, and River City Dragons.

Tough competition and tough water! Sunday is going to be a great day of racing, and we will need our friends and family on shore cheering us in.

We're hoping to race three heats, but we have work to do to earn a chance to race in the afternoon.  We'll be racing in lane four in the morning, which has a strong current. Paddles up!

The teams placing 1st and 2nd and the two fastest teams placing 3rd in each Quarterfinal heat will advance to Semifinals.

​Semifinals/Consolation, Women’s Subdivision 1, Heats 69-71 at 1:09-1:27 p.m.

The teams placing 1st and 2nd in each Semifinal heat will advance to Finals.

Finals, Women’s Division 1, Heat 83 at 3:36 p.m.

Finished first with time of 2:55:77. Top speed of 7.3 mph. Great job at the line, Ali. Well done Flies!

Special thanks to all of our fans for all of the great support. We could hear the roar on the water. You're the best!

Seeding and schedule for tomorrow coming soon!

Finished first in round 1 qualifier, time of 2:52. Well done Flies. On to round 2.

Check our Facebook page for photos, we're having technical difficulties.

See you on the water!

Location update. We are actually just to the right on the end of the middle row off of SW Columbia.

Stop by for a cookie. Don't wait too long. Co-Captain Eleanor really knows her way around a kitchen.