More than 30 teams will compete at the third Cooper River Dragon Boat Festival
An ancient Chinese sport is returning to the Cooper River later this month.
Schwartz’s River Sirens, another all-women’s team, is competing in the club category. The squad practices regularly and is mostly made up of athletes from Haddonfield and Haddon Township, though a few come from as far away as Atlantic County and Mansfield Township.
The River Sirens founded the Cooper River Dragon Boat Festival back in 2015. Schwartz said the idea was to bring the “joy and thrill” of the sport to the forefront.
“We wanted to share what we do with the community,” she said.
Kane, whose team won the festival’s inaugural mixed community title, said she has seen the sport help participants who did not consider themselves athletes before getting involved in dragon boat racing.
“It changes people’s lives,” Kane said. “I see the confidence it puts in people.”
Vendors and a DJ will also be at Cooper River Park on July 28 during the festival, and spectators are encouraged to come out and watch the races, Schwartz said.
The boats will be launching at the docks near Cuthbert and Park boulevards in Cherry Hill, and the finish line will be near the war memorial at Cooper River Park.
For more information or to register a team, visit cooperriverdbf.org.
