Race Officials
Race officials are essential to BDA competitions; we couldn't run the events without them.
There are a number of different jobs that the officials do during BDA events. Roles include:
- Race secretariat - dealing with paperwork such as crew lists
- Start monitors - ensuring all boats are aligned on the start line and starting each race
- Finish monitors - timing each race and noting the finish times and positions of all boats
- Boat marshal - ensuring the right crews are in the right boats at the right time throughout the race day
- Race control - providing a central point of contact and coordination throughout the event
Becoming an official also gives opportunities to travel and officiate at European or World level once you are suitably qualified and experienced.
For more information about joining the team, speak to an official at any of our regattas or contact a member of the BDA Executive.
The 2026 officials team is: Darrell Snape (Chief Official), Ali Marsland, Andy Menzies, Christine Cosgrove, Ed McDonald, Jenni Henderson, Karen Snape, Lesley Wakelin, Liz Norris, Mark Newman,Paul Coster, Stuart Menzies and Sue Menzies.
Darrell Snape
Darrell started dragon boating at a charity event in 2010. He then travelled to events around the UK and abroad supporting his daughter as she raced with Worcester Dragons and Team GB. He started officiating in 2011 and became an IDBF/EDBF race official in 2016. He has since officiated at international competitions all over Europe and in China. Darrell has been the BDA’s Chief Official since 2019 and is also a member of the BDA Executive Committee. He lives in Worcester and when he’s not dragon boating, he’s usually found sleeping or driving a bus.
Ali Marsland
Ali has been involved in dragon boating since 2003. She is a Level 3 coach and advanced helm and was in the GB Premier Squad from 2022 to 2025. Alongside racing, Ali has been part of the GB Premier Squad management team since 2024 and works as the BDA's Operations Coordinator. She began officiating in 2024. Ali lives in Nottingham but works remotely and loves to travel so she’s often found working – and dragon boating – overseas in sunnier places during the UK winter.
Andy Menzies
Andy has been involved in dragon boating since 1988. He competed with Team GB in Japan in 1989 and qualified as an IDBF Official in 1994. He is now a Level 3 IDBF Official and has officiated at more than 20 EDBF/IDBF events, starting with the World Championships in Nottingham in 1999. Andy is Vice President of the BDA and has been on the Executive Committee since 2008. He was also a member of the EDBF Executive Committee from 2018 to 2025. He spent 12 years in the Royal Navy as a radio operator before moving into his current career in finance.
Christine Cosgrove
Christine started dragon boating in 2013 and has been officiating since 2019. She has also been Team GB Manager since 2022, working with squad management teams across all GB crews and coordinating logistics and international representation. She lives in Liverpool and works as a care leaver personal advisor for Halton Borough Council. When she’s not working or running dragon boat activities she enjoys spending time with her young granddaughter.
Jenni Henderson
Jenni has been involved in dragon boating since 2011 and began officiating in 2022. She is Treasurer of the BDA, a role she has held since 2022, with responsibility for financial management as well as marketing and communications. Jenni is originally from Dundee but lives in Worcester. Alongside dragon boating, she runs her own business supporting owners and leaders with business development and marketing and sometimes enjoys (sometimes doesn’t enjoy!) supporting her local rugby team, Worcester Warriors, and the Scotland rugby team.
Karen Snape
Karen started dragon boating at a charity event in 2010. She then travelled to events around the UK and abroad supporting her daughter as she raced with Worcester Dragons and Team GB. Karen became a BDA race official in 2015 and is currently Chief Boat Marshal. She took her IDBF/EDBF Officials exam in 2018 and has since officiated at international events in Spain, Italy and Serbia. She is also a member of the Worcestershire Pink Pears Breast Cancer team affiliated with Pershore Phoenix. She is married to the Chief Official and is a first aider for Worcester Colts Rugby Team.
Lesley Wakelin
Lesley is from Berkshire and has been a BDA official since 2013. She worked as a police officer for 30 years and although not a paddler herself, became involved with dragon boating through her sons, who were members of their local club. Lesley has been an international race official since 2016 and officiated at events in China and Prague. She has also attended international events in Germany, Canada, Prague, Divonne and Rome in her capacity as a dragon boat mum. At race events she is most often found on the finish line or boat marshal.
Mark Newman
Mark came into dragon boating in the winter of 2001, paddling with Secklow Hundred. Since then, he has competed at the World and European Club Championships and taken part in the Vogalonga in Venice. 2025 was his first season of officiating. Mark is a retired police officer but still works as a civilian investigator for the Metropolitan Police. In his spare time he volunteers for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and his local football club, Newport Pagnall.
Paul Coster
Paul started dragon boating in 1997 with Texaco Dragons (later renamed Thames Dragons). He competed with the GB Seniors squad in 2000 and 2001 and then began supporting new clubs such as Windy Pandas and Wave Walkers, a London-based team for those affected by cancer. He supported the Hong Kong dragon boat festival, inviting BDA teams to exhibition races, and works with teams from various backgrounds, coaching Muslim ladies for London’s Al Noor dragon boat festival and Shadwell Dragons’ ladies and mixed teams. He co-founded Royal Docks Outriggers Canoe Club and worked as an employer engagement coordinator until retiring in 2022.
Stuart Menzies
Sue Menzies
Sue started dragon boating in 1988 with Batchworth Dragons. She moved to officiating for the BDA when pregnant with her first son in the late 1990s. She is a Level 3 coach and Level 4 race official and has officiated at international events most years since 2004. She has been part of the BDA Executive Committee several times, holding Member, Vice Chairman and Secretary positions, and has also served on the EDBF Executive Committee. Sue loves helping the sport at grassroots level by getting new helms and coaches up and running including working with her local scouts group.
