Ten Fast Strokes, Then Follow the Drummer

Chicagoans came by foot and water taxi to Ping Tom Park to watch the exciting Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy 2013 on July 13th. With 25 teams competing, there was lots of action. The top three teams won recognition.

Governor Patrick Quinn and Secretary of State Jesse White declined to paddle, but Ronald McDonald was drummer in the first race, and Rep. Ken Dunkin (5th) paddled with his racing team.

This year, Ascene Chicago served as the event emcees for the races and entertainment which included Cirque Shanghai performers and other presentations.

Congratulations to the 2013 Winners of the Dragon Boat Race for Literacy, Grainger Supply. In second Place was Team Trooper of the Illinois State Police and third Place was Wheezin Dragon from Northrop Grumman. Each and every team worked hard training for the event and gave it their all at the event.

Second Place, Team Trooper paddlers and supporters.

Wheezin Dragons from Northrop Grumman were third.

The participating teams were:

AA Flying Dragons (American Airlines), Allstate, AT&T Dragons (AT&T), BMO Harris Aces (BMO Harris Bank), Deering Dragon (009 District Police), Delta Force (Milliman), Dragon PAC (CDW), DragoNG (Northrop Grumman), Flash Paddlers, Four Star River Ramblers, Gems Give Back (GEMS Program, UIC), Grainger, HSBC Red Dragons (HSBC), McDonald’s, NBC 5 Chicago, Oak Park Families with Children from China, Peking University, Pepsi (Pepsico), Sun-Times Media, Team Dunkin (Friends of Dunkin), Team Trooper (Illinois State Police), Tsinghua (Tsinghua Alumni Association in Greater Chicago), UIC Pyro Paddlers (University of Illinois at Chicago), Wheezin Dragon (Northrop Grumman) and World Book Mighty Dragons (World Book, Inc.).

The newly dedicated City of Chicago Park District Boat House generated new interest from visitors at the event as a result of the vendor booths and children’s activities which were situated next to it. Among the vendors were the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Police Department, MetLife and many more. Charter One Bank was the sponsors for the children’s Moon Jump.