Team information

Kathryn is our super talented, super organised, hard working Club President. She began paddling in 2011, and joined the club in 2018. Having previously been Nationals Team Manager and Club Secretary for 4 years, she took on the President role in 2023. She is also the Vice-President of our Regional governing body – CRDBA, developing a strategy for growth and implementing all the working parts to grow and sustain Dragon Boating in the Wellington region and its success on the National stage.

Rachel has been dragon boating since 2009 and has been paddling with the club since 2013. Rachel has held many roles on the committee but has now taken on the role of Social Media Queen. She has a huge passion for dragon boating and is very dedicated to the development and growth for the sport in Wellington and New Zealand.

Sophie moved to Wellington back in June 2015 from Brittany in France and she is one of our best imports to date. Joining the club back in 2022 as a paddler for PWS Kākāriki (previously Green Machine), she was quick to make a mark within her crew and the club by taking on the Secretary role in 2023.

Sam first got into Dragonboating as he sucked at ball sports and it had a cool name (agree)! He is a quiet soul but has fierce competition on the water. He has been paddling with Pōneke for a few years, starting back in our mixed crew Green Machine in 2019. Prior to this he paddled corporate in the late noughties with a small stint in London before returning to NZ. Now paddling for Ika Moana he has also been selected for our Nationals crew 2024. Bring on Karapiro!

Jo has been paddling for a total of 14 years! Starting with our mates from the north @random.jaffas who she had a 7 year stint with before setting sail down to Pōneke where she has competed with one of our women’s crews, PWS Heat for 8 seasons now. Jo has been to Nationals, but not with Pōneke and was apart of the Auckland Representative squad that came away with a silver medal that year. Her favourite race is the 2km (a true dragonboaters’ favourite race).

Dave started paddling as a stroke in the mid 90’s then took up sweeping when he realised it is easier to yell at paddlers instead of paddling yourself. Dave has swept at the 2007 World Championships. He has also steered UHC and several corporate teams safely across the finish line in Wellington and at National championships.

Ewen has been involved in Dragon Boating since 2007, having competed successfully at multiple World Championships representing Australia in Masters and Grandmasters divisions and multiple Worlds Clubs Crew Championships representing Brisbane River Dragons (BRD) in all divisions. Ewen coached Queensland State masters teams for the Australian National Championships winning across all categories. BRD was for many years the top club in Australia and Ewen continued that success when he was appointed Head Coach where the club won medals in all events at the World Club Crew Championships in Italy and Adelaide, and for two years in a row BRD were the top club Masters club in Australia. Ewen has a real passion for the sport whether as a paddler, sweep, coach or administrator who wants to ensure that every paddler can reach their own goals in the sport and further the growth of the club.

David has been with us a short time but he has made a huge impact. An import from Aussie in 2016 with his kiwi husband Matt and dog ‘Babs’, he first paddled for Waitematā Warriors, a corporate team in Auckland before relocating down to Wellington for work in 2021. Shortly after he joined the crew at Pōneke Watersports and we have made sure to keep him busy.

Catherine has been apart of Pōneke since 2018. A key member of one of our longest standing teams, the Silver Dragons, she first competed with the team the last time Wellington Dragon Boat Festival officially had a Masters grade. After winning a gold medal that year, she was hooked! With the sport and the club.

Another Auckland recruit, Ciara paddled in high school but with a 6 year paddling gap in their resume, they thought it was time to get back in the boat. Managing and paddling for team Force in 2024, Ciara took the team name literally and may have broken a paddle during a race.