Written about us

Performing At Dragon Boat Race

FFiremen of Fire Brigades at the Nuclear Power Plant of Paks have always given convincing evidence of their ability to give a good account of themselves in extreme situations and stand even the most trying tests. Last time they demonstrated that they could remain in possession of the field even if it comes to dragon boat racing. They were placed second at the 3rd Dragon Boat Festival, Győr, Hungary on 21 May. In Military category, where armed forces, fire brigades and similar organizations can measure their strength, civilians were also allowed to be on team. “Power Plant Firemen” have set up their team in view of this, and scored praiseworthy results:

Team members were Zoltán Akkerman, József Bazsonyi, István Bertalan, József Farkas, Roland Fehér, Zoltán Gyetvai, Zsófia Hartmann (drummer), Frigyes Lepp, Zsolt Lesták, Gábor Markács, István Matus, Balázs Nagy, Ferenc Paksi, Szilárd Papp (team captain), István Puxler, Ferenc Rodenbücher, Tamás Szabó, László Tárnok, Tibor Varga, Péter and Zoltán Witt. President of Dragon Boat Club of Paks László Sziklenka Sen. rendered great help to the team in getting ready and fit for the race.
Team captain Szilárd Papp informed us on how the Power Plant’s Knights of Flame could enter for a nationwide dragon boat race. Szilárd Papp, Fire Engine Commander of the Nuclear Power Plant’s Fire Brigades, had been a canoeist for a long time, and he came to know, from his former trainer László Sziklenka Sen. (now also President of Hungarian Dragon Boat Association), that Dragon Boat Club of Paks had been established, so he became a founding and leading member of the Club. Founded in April, the Club has a 12.5 metres long dragon boat (including ornaments) with a crew of 20 paddlers, one at the helm and a drummer. Military category was also listed in the announcement of the Dragon Boat Festival, which aroused his interest. Therefore he embarked upon putting together the Fire Brigades’ dragon boat racing team that wasn’t an easy job because most of team members worked in shifts and the boat was berthing on the Danube in Tolna Club’s dock, so team members had to travel there to have training for the race. They had only six training occasions in the last three weeks before the race was launched but their enthusiasm resulted in a splendid performance. That was the very first time they entered for the race, yet they managed to step on the second stage of the podium.

Appr. 70 boats registered for the 3rd Dragon Boat Festival. At Team Cup competition, team running under the name “Tolna County Dragons”, with a crew also including some from employers and firemen of the Nuclear Power Plant, was placed fourth, and won the cup due to the best placed first timer team. Entering for LHB (Military) Cup, “Power Plant Firemen” took the second place by travelling the 300 metre long rowing course in 1.09 minutes. We congratulate both teams!

by Mrs. Anna Lovászi
Nuclear Power Plant Bulletin, June 2006