Rowers Battle On Hudson To Fight Cancer At Poughkeepsie Dragon Boat Races

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - On one of the hottest days of the summer, area rowers converged on the Hudson River Rowing Association in Poughkeepsie Saturday for the third Dragon Boat Races and Festival.

Area rowers converged on the Hudson River Rowing Association in Poughkeepsie Saturday for the third Dragon Boat Races and Festival.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman

Teams push toward the finish line of the 200-meter course on the Hudson River.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

The Marist Fire Foxes team heads for the dock after finishing a race.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Teams push toward the finish line on the 200-meter course on the Hudson.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Dutchess team Tubby's Conquistadors, from Dutchess County, took third place overall.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Demonstrations from local artists were part of Saturday's Dragon Boat Races event.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

The Blazing Paddle team, from Dutchess County.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Winning team MAD (Metro Athletic Dragons), from NYC, with Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro (back, center).
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

The Smoke on the Water Team, from Dutchess County.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Skip Pearlman

07/25/2016 9:21 a.m.

Proceeds from the event, sponsored by Dutchess Tourism, go to Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation and Arts Mid-Hudson.

The festival included live music from the Roadhouse Roosters, art demonstrations from local artists, Chinese food artists demonstrated how to make dumplings, spring rolls and other delicacies, and there was an assortment of food trucks on hand.

But the main attraction was the Dragon Boat races.

Each boat included a minimum of 16 rowers, plus a drummer (who keeps rowers in synch), and participated in three 200-meter races, with temperatures hovering in the mid-90s.

In the championship race, The MAD Dragons (Metro Athletic Dragons), a team from New York City, squared off against Dutchess County's own Bump, Set, Spike, Paddle team (also a volleyball team), with MAD surging ahead strongly for the win as the boats approached the finish line.

Tubby's Conquistadors, another Duchess-based team, won bronze, winning their third-place race.

Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro was on hand to take in the event, and present the winning teams with trophies.

Check out the video to see Daily Voice talk to Jen Oppenheim of Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation and Molinaro about the event, and to see highlights from the third-place and championship races.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Poughkeepsie and receive free news updates.