Bunbury crew double winners

Bunbury's Forza Dragon Boat Club confirmed its ranking as WA’s top mixed crew after winning gold in the 200m and 500m divisions at the State titles last Sunday.

Forza were pushed by Perth Pirates at Champion Lakes course, but came out on top over both distances.

The Bunbury crew won two out of the three 200m races to secure the State title.

Forza had been pipped by the Pirates in the opening race but rallied to claim the final two by 0.5sec.

The 500m events were not as close, with Forza stamping its authority to win all three heats over Perth Pirates with Fremantle Swan taking bronze.

The final race of the day was the 2000m time trial.

Forza set their sights on repeating their success at January’s regatta, by winning the longer distance and completing the trifecta.

But after a strong start, disaster struck when Forza was slapped with a 20sec time penalty after breaching the “no overtaking” zone rule at the turn.

They had been holding second place but finished third behind Fremantle Swan Juniors, who are heading to the national titles in Sydney and Cockburn.

Although Forza missed out on the clean sweep, its wins on Sunday ended a 12-year Mixed State Title drought.

The crew is now focusing on its winter marathon season. The first round, to be held over a 25km course on the Frankland River, is in mid-May.