Event History and Format

AusDBF and its predecessor, the Australian Dragon Boat Assoc (ADBA), have run the Australian National Dragon Boat Championships annually since 1996. From 1996 to 2000 the National Championships consisted of Club Crew races only. From 2001 the competition format was expanded to include State Crews representing AusDBF Members. Starting in Darwin, in 2001, the format of the National Championships was changed to consist of a State competition (500m on Day 1) AND a Club competition (1,000m on Day 2, 500m on Day 3 and 200m on Day 4).

The State competition is for AusDBF Member representative teams. It is up to each AusDBF Member how they select their state team. Some AusDBF Members opt to put forward their best club sides as their state team while other AusDBF Members elect to field representative crews consisting of the best paddlers coming from two or more clubs.

In odd numbered years (eg 2007, 2009, 2011, etc) the winners of the State competition in open, womens, mixed, masters, super masters and junior categories earn the right to become part of the Australian Team at the next IDBF World Championship. Under this scenario the State competition at the 2007 Nationals in Sydney was used to select the Australian team for the IDBF 2007 World Championships in Sydney. In even numbered years (eg 2008, 2010, 2012, etc) the winners of the State competition in Premier Open, Premier Womens and Premier Mixed categories earn the right to become part of the Australian Team participating at the next Asian Dragon Boat Federation (ADBF) Championships (eg 2008 in Penang).

Club Crews are selected from two consecutive National Championships. In odd numbered years (eg 2007, 2009, 2011, etc) the top 3 clubs in the Club competition in all categories earn the right to represent Australia and in even numbered years (eg 2008, 2010, 2012, etc) a further two top clubs in each category of the Club competition earn the right to represent Australia at the next IDBF Club Crew World Championships. For example, the club series at the 2005 Nationals and the 2006 Nationals were used to select the 5 club crews per category going to IDBF Club Crew World Championships in 2006 in Toronto.

In conjuction with the Nationals AusDBF hold their Annual General Meeting and co-ordinate information sessions/dinners for State Presidents and State Sweep Co-ordinators.

AusDBF Members bid one or more years in advance to host the National Championships.