Competitive drive fires up these Nathan Benderson Park paddlers

Ask Evelyn Silverthorn about the best moment from her dragon boat paddling career, and her expression changes. 

She smiles, but also tries to stop the tears welling in her eyes. She speaks softer, in short bursts. She'll tell you about the 2022 Club Crew World Championships, during which she and her Nathan Benderson Park Senior B paddling teammates took first place in the 2,000 meter category (10:20.34) among other strong performances. 

It was not the race itself that stirred emotions in Silverthorn, but the ceremony afterward, when Head Coach Angela Long placed a gold medal around her neck. 

"It brings a lot of pride," said Silverthorn, who is 55. "We worked hard for it. And she (Long) is amazing. That was definitely the highlight." 

The 2023 Club Crew National Championships, held July 21-23 at Benderson Park and hosted by the United States Dragon Boat Federation, does not have the global flavor of Club Crew Worlds, which are held every two years, but it is meaningful all the same. For lovers of the sport, the Club Crew Nationals is not only a chance to prove your boat's strength against other top clubs, but it is also a chance to share and celebrate the sport that has come to mean so much to so many of them. 

Silverthorn, for instance, only started in the sport three years ago on the recommendation of friends. She considered herself to be a fairly athletic person before, having competed in sports in school growing up and following a workout routine as an adult. She also considered herself a "competitive spirit," not just in athletics but in all aspects. Still, nothing in her life properly prepared her for the intensity of dragon boat. 

"You have to learn the proper form," Silverthorn said. "Our bodies are not equipped to start doing this right off the bat. It takes a lot of time on the water, a lot of practice with a lot of great coaches. It was more intimidating than I thought it would be." 

But Silverthorn is someone who likes to work toward a goal, so she did not quit. Small steps lead to big rewards, she said. For her, that reward she was chasing was a spot at Worlds. Three years after she started her journey, she got there. That's why this sport stirs emotions like it does in Silverthorn: all goals within it are achievable with practice and patience. It might not be easy, but that makes the rewards all the sweeter. 

Photo by Ryan Kohn

Claire Keenan has been in the sport for longer than Silverthorn, starting in 2013. Back then, there was only the Survivors in Sync breast cancer survivor team based out of Benderson Park, so Keenan joined the Anna Maria Island team, and she switched to Benderson Park once it added its NBP Dragons team.

Keenan was a runner in her youth, but never expected to fall head over heels for a new sport at this point in her life. Keenan has been focused on her family, she said, and watching her children grow. Now that they have, she has time to spend on herself — but even she is surprised that this is how she's spending it. 

 "I never expected to travel (for events) or for it to be so central to my life," Keenan said. "It's the adrenaline rush that I like. You know, we're not young chicks anymore. It's great to be in your 60s and still be able to feel the power of your body. It's a great buzz." 

Keenan said she tries to fit in practice on one of the park's solo outrigger canoes three times a week, at least, to keep up her strength and cardio. For Keenan, a medal around the neck is a fine prize, but it's not why she's in the sport. She prefers to see her team's time drop, and even when that does not happen, she can get satisfaction out of knowing she put in a good day of work. 

Both Keenan and Silverthorn were part of the NBP Dragon Women's Senior B team at the 2023 Club Crew Nationals. Among other results, the squad took first place in the 200 meter sprint race on July 21 (53.638). With coaches like Long and facilities like the ones offered at Benderson Park, it seems easy to take the success of the park's teams for granted. But it's paddlers will never do that. To them, this sport is more than the final results. It's a journey to doing things they hardly thought possible. 

"When you're older, it can seem like your life is predictable," Keenan said. "This sport gives you a new aspect.

"Take it slow. Take it easy. You can't start and expect to be doing this (at a national level) on the first day. But take your time and persist and you'll make it."

For full results from the 2023 Club Crew Nationals, visit IDBFChamps.org/2023Sar. For more information on dragon boat, visit NathanBendersonPark.org/Paddling.