FINGAL Bay’s decorated paddler Sandra Lyons relishes a challenge on the waterways.
Since picking up her first paddle four years ago, the super-fit 63-year-old has carved out an impressive list of achievements on the gruelling dragon boat racing circuit.
The talented water warrior has been one of the sport’s fiercest competitors since linking with the Port Stephens Dragon Boat Club at Soldiers Point.
She confirmed her status as one of the country’s finest senior paddlers after collecting yet another gold medal at the recent Australian Masters Games in Canberra.
Sandra was part of a powerful Port Central Two Tribes crew that won the Women’s 10s Senior C (60 years plus) 1km pursuit title during the prestigious three-day regatta at Weston Park – despite the cancellation of multiple races due to high winds.
“It was a tough event this year with the blustery conditions making the task difficult for the paddlers on the water and playing havoc with the race schedule,” Lyons told News Of The Area.
“To grab another gold with the Two Tribes was satisfying indeed and a reward for all the hard work leading up to the Masters Games.”
It was the second time that paddlers from Port Stephens and Central Coast clubs joined forces to form Port Central and compete under the Two Tribes banner since last year’s Pan Pacific Masters regatta on the Gold Coast.
Races included 200m, 500m and 1km events, with the Two Tribes also clinching a bronze medal in the Mixed Regular Small Boat (10 person) Senior B (50-years plus) 200m final.
Evergreen Sandra along with Port Stephens Dragon Boat clubmate Troy Vingerhoed of Salamander Bay, were also part of the Hawkesbury to Hunter representative team that participated at the NSW Regional Championships at Sydney International Regatta Centre in the lead up to the National Masters.
The Hawkesbury to Hunter team comprised paddlers from the Hawkesbury, Deepwater, Central Coast, Hunter River, Newcastle and Port Stephens Dragon Boat clubs.
They lined up against regions across NSW such as Northern, Southern, Western plus two Sydney teams in 200m, 500m and 1km pursuit races with Hawkesbury to Hunter finishing third overall.
The recipe for Sandra’s paddling success are the numerous hours of intensive training, which include club sessions on the water with prominent coach Brendan Jones, regular in-boat training sessions in Sydney and several gym sessions per week.
Her high endurance levels, paddling skills and durability, make her a strong contender for NSW selection and national honours in the build up to the 2026 Pan Pacific Games on the Gold Coast and the 2027 World Dragon Boat Championships in Japan.
By Chris KARAS
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