We stumbled out of bed in the middle of the night

to make it on time to the Harrison race site

and make it we did – the entire team on time

and set up our tents before the sun started to shine.

Now Harrison is a regatta we’ve not done before

but this year the Eh Team wants to race more and more.

The competition is stiff with over 50 teams

and at least two other senior ones, so it seems.

Fortunately we have Pat who finds emergency solutions

and for injured paddlers makes quick substitutions.

There was never any doubt we would do well

since this team pulls together it’s easy to tell.

Now most of us find having one team is enough

but Tony is also steering for 2 teams and the water is rough;

and Pat is either paddling with her team or drumming for us

she sprints back and forth and doesn’t make a fuss.

Our most respectable times send us to Consolation B

while our competitors languish in divisions D and C.

Ah, but the sun, the sun, it’s a killer on this day

and little did we know thunderstorms were on the way.

We warm up and marshall again and again

and then stand under a tree to wait out the rain

the clouds on the horizon are looming a dreadful black

and then the lightning strikes begin with a crack

So the regatta is over with some races left to run

but one thing’s for sure – we all had great fun.

And now we prepare for the Victoria races,

where last year we departed with great smiles on our faces.

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