Alappuzha :

Ushering in the new boat race season, Nadubhagam Chundan, rowed by Nadubhagam Boat Club, Champakulam lifted the Raja Pramukhan Trophy of this year’s Champakulam Moolam Boat Race held on the Pampa River here on Monday.

In a pulsating finale, Nadubhagam, one of the most famous snake boats of Kerala, outdid the St Pious Xth Chundan(snake boat) of St Pious Xth Boat Club, Mankombu and Champakulam snake boat of Venice Boat Club, Alappuzha.

Renju Abraham, captian of the winner Nadubhagam Chundan said he and his team are very excited about their victory of this prestigious trophy and dedicated it to all his team members.” Our next aim is to bag the coveted Nehru Trophy Boat Race to be held on Punnamada Lake in August this year,” he said.

In the loser’s finale, Sree Karthikeyan of Junior CBC came at the first position. St Joseph of CBC Chempupuram and Pulinkunnu of Kunnamma Boat Club Kavalam came in second and third positions respectively.

In the ‘Iruttukuthi A grade’ finale(finale of smaller boats), Mammodan of St Mary’s Yuvadeepthi Club, Kainakary came in the first psotion. In `Veppu A grade’ finale, Chethikadan of Warriors Boats Club, Kuttamangalam, Kainakary came in the first position. Kottaparamban of SCDC Boat Club from Kaippuzhamuttu and Asha Pulikkalam of Samudra Boat Club, Kumaarakom finished in second and third positions respectively.

The traditional annual boat race of Kerala begins with Champakulam Boat Race which is also known as ‘MoolamVallamkali’. The other popular boat race that will follow the Champakkulam boat race are Nehru Trophy boat race, Kayamkulam BoatRace, Payipad boat race, the Rajiv Gandhi TrophyBoat Race, Karuvatta, Mannar and Neerattupuram boat races. As many as 6 snake boats took part in the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race on Monday.

Boat race organizing committee general convener and Kuttanad Tahasildar Cheriyan V Koshy said, “In 2014 and 2015, we could not conduct the finals of the snake boats following row among boat clubs over track length. However, this year, we have solved all the complaints related to the track length and we have ensured equal length in three tracks,” said Koshy. This boat race was organized by the district administration in association with Tourism Department and local bodies.

Kuttanad MLA Thomas Chandy inaugurated the boat race. Kayamkulam MLA Prathibha Hari flagged off the boat race.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / Sajimon P S / TNN / June 20th, 2016