BY SCOTT HUNTER HADOOW
Together, Brad and Valorie Leonard have been
married for 10 years and have overcome numerous challenges with
daily life by sticking together and supporting each
other.
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Brad and Valorie Leonard had to
endure gruelling training sessions to make it, but
they're proud members of the national dragon boat teams
heading to China for the world championships next
month. |
Their devotion to one another paid off big
time recently, when both Brad and Valorie, Sudbury Canoe Club
members, earned the right, through intense competition and
stress, to represent Canada at the World Dragon Boat Racing
Championships to be held in Shanghai, China from Oct. 20-24,
2004.
The Leonard's both had to pass a rigorous,
almost tortuous tryout process in Toronto back in May to earn
their coveted spots.
Both had to go through an intensive, two-day
series of harsh paddling exercises.
"We called it boot camp," said Valorie.
On the first day, they toughed it out through
four sessions in race-like conditions, each consisting of 90
minutes of intense paddling. Then they had
to do more paddling in a training pool,
followed by 400 sit ups and 100 push ups during their rest
period!
This was followed by a weight-training
regiment.
"The first day was 12 hours long and we were
exhausted and dead," said Brad.
The second day featured more gruelling
paddling exercises, followed by team cuts.
The Leonard's made it through all the cuts,
and were named to their respective teams at the start of
August.
"It was one of my goals and it will be a real
honour to represent Canada," said Brad, 43, "I have always
strived to be the best I can."
The Leonard's were selected from about 90
paddlers.
The tough process was worth all the
pain.
"I am very proud to be selected because
there's a lot of competition for these spots," said Valorie,
49. "The hardest part was surviving the two days while being
watched by the coaches. Even if you were tired, you had to keep
going."
Both Brad and Valorie will join 18 other
paddlers, one steer person and a drummer for the World
Championships, and are looking to be part of the Canadian teams
hoping to prove they are the best in the world.
"We want to win, to put it simply," said
Brad. "It will not be easy. There's about 20 other countries
sending their best. It will take a lot of guts and
determination from all of us."
Making the national team has given the
Leonard's a greater appreciation of one another. "We never
imagined we could both make the teams," said Valorie. "Having
the support of one another helped greatly. We think about
racing together all the time. It's an incredible
accomplishment."
Both paddlers realize the importance of their
club team, Sudbury Chiropractic, as a key component in them
reaching their true dreams. "We paddle with a great group of
individuals," said Brad. "Without the support from Sudbury
Chiro pushing us, we wouldn't be doing what we are
doing."
Valorie echoed her husband's comments. "We
owe a lot to all of the team Chiro members."
The Leonard's have kept themselves busy to
stay at the top of their paddling game by competing in 10
highly competitive races this year, including the infamous
Great White North Dragon Boat Challenge held in Toronto last
weekend, which Sudbury Team Chiropractic won.
"It was a tremendous effort by everyone,"
said Valorie. "We all came together at the right moment. It was
a huge win for the team. We showed what
team work is all about."
