Dragon Boat Victoria officials have given approval for the Horsham Dragon Boat Regatta on the weekend of October 29 and 30, at the Wimmera River. 

A come and try day is scheduled for the Saturday and the racing will start on the Sunday. 

The event will feature 10 teams, including interstate entries, with more than 250 paddlers expected to take to the river. 

Horsham Rural City Council tourism and major events co-ordinator Chris McClure said the event will bring significant economic benefit to the region. 

“With those sort of numbers plus partners and family that is probably 350 people we would expect to be here,” he said. 

“In terms of an economic benefit, having 350 odd people stay for two nights in our caravan parks and motels and then having meals and social functions in the evening, it will be quite substantial.

“We want Horsham to be recognised as the event capital in Western Victoria.” 

Dragon Boat Victoria general manager Chris Schleusener said it was very exciting for the region. 

“I think it is very exciting for our metro members to get out and experience paddling in the regions to support our regional clubs like the existing Dimboola club,” he said. 

Dimboola Warreguk Dragon Boat Club president Ross Howlett said he is hoping to see some club growth. 

“The idea of the come and try day is to get people interested,” he said. 

“Hopefully they enjoy it and come and watch the competing on the Sunday and then come up and join us. If we can get another 10 members out of it we will be really happy with the weekend.

“Our club has only been going for 12 months, we are up to about 22 members with about 15 competing so we are slowly getting there.” 

Dragon Boat Victoria board member David Nairn said it is the ultimate team sport. 

“You have to do it together. No one can win a race by themselves. The team is the hero,” he said. 

“It’s a very social activity so the more people we expose to it the better.”