That's how Port Macquarie's Glenys Cummings and Merche Benson described their inclusion in the National Australian Dragonboat squad to compete in the World Championships in 2019.

The event is scheduled for Bangkok in August.

The duo were selected in the 2017 squad and competed in China where the national team claimed silver and bronze medals.

"We hope to go a bit better in 2019 and win gold," Cummings said.

"The team looks very strong and we are now in full training to maintain our condition ahead of the event."

The duo will be competing in the senior C, 60 plus year age group.

Benson said she was continually receiving congratulations for her selection from people in the street.

"Even my grandson saw my Australian uniform and realised the importance of being selected in a national team," she said.

The pair were selected in the national team after completing a gruelling fitness program and attending a selection camp in Melbourne.

A dragonboat contains 20 paddlers, a sweep and a drummer. Sixty six men and women attended the selection camp.

Benson said the selection process was long and hard work.

"You first have to complete a fitness test and submit that as part of the process," she said.

"The (fitness) test included, 20kg bench presses, 40 horizontal pull ups in 60 seconds, 70 aurora sit ups in two minutes, two minutes on a row machine and then a 400m paddle in a Concept 2 (a kayak with an outrigger attached).

"If you passed that you were invited to the selection camp where all the fitness tests were repeated with some extra on-water sprints.

"The following day all those tests were re-done and we were put in teams to compete in three, one kilometre races."

The final team was eventually selected, based on those results.

The duo said it was an eye-opener to see how fit many older people are.

And it was that draw of fitness that helped Cummings and Benson initially join the Flamin' Dragons Club.

Benson played soccer up until 2010 but suffered from "two stuffed knees". She got into a boat for the first time in 2010 and hasn't looked back.

For Cummings, her interest started in Darwin but it was just five years ago that she saw a come and try day advertisement for dragonboating and "got hooked immediately".

Both paddlers say they enjoy dragonboating because it maintains their fitness while fuelling their competitive spirit.

"The national coaches are continually monitoring our progress even at this stage," Cummings said.

"We have a phone app that sits in the boat and monitors everything we do, from stroke strength to analysing our heart rates.

"The fitness program and the data logging helps ensure everyone in the squad is maintaining a similar level of fitness."

The pair also have to complete a gym program that includes on-water and off-water training.

Their goal is to reach 70 kilometres per week of on-water training.

Cummings says she enjoys the challenge of having something to work toward while both paddlers agreed that reaching a good fitness level was part of the attraction of dragonboating.

Both paddlers wanted to thank their local coaches for their support along with the members of the Flamin’ Dragons Club who have been enthusiastic about their selection.

Flamin' Dragons' secretary Andrew Blundell congratulated Cummings and Benson on their selection.

"Our club is really proud that paddlers from regional Australia can be selection into the national squad," he said.

"Particularly because this is a sport that is dominated by the Canadians and Asian countries.

"This is the second year for both these ladies and it is a credit to their ability and a credit to the local coaches."

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