THRISSUR:
Tropical Titans continued with their winning spree but only after surviving tense moments to emerge toppers at the second race of the third Champions Boat League (CBL Season-3), as the reigning champions overcame big-time scare from their spirited rival teams at the third edition of the water festival in this district today.
Finishing second at the Kottapuram track were Coast Dominators, while Raging Rowers put up a splendid show to come third and better their performance vis-à-vis the Kochi inaugural races on September 16 at Kochi where they were a poor seventh. People’s participation pepped up the oarsmen here this afternoon too, as CBL Season-3 hit its northern-most venue in the IPL-model 12-leg championship being organized by Kerala Tourism.
By timing an impressive 2:28.01 minutes in a photo-finish, Tropical Titans (Pallathuruthy Boat Club rowing the Veeyapuram snake-boat) finished first yet again in the venue close to the historical Kodungallur town, even as Coast Dominators (owned by UBC Kainakary Club, rowing Nadubhagom Chundan) clocked 2:29.15. Raging Rowers (Police Boat Club on Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekethil) clocked 2:30.37 in today’s finals of the nine-boat race that was inaugurated by Revenue Minister Shri K. Rajan.
Tropical Titans, who had won the inaugural CBL Season-3 race at Kochi last weekend (September 16), had their testing time in the finals here as well, but experience and tenacity enabled them to top the list at the end of the day. The club held the title in both the previous editions of the championship in 2019 and ’22.
At the fourth position this evening were Might Oars (NCDC Boat Club on Niranam Chundan), who were the second runners-up at Kochi last weekend. Today’s fifth position went to Ripple Breakers (Punnamada Boat Club on Karichal), followed by Backwater Warriors (Kumarakom Town Boat Club on Champakulam Chundan). At the seventh were Backwater Kings (Niranam Boat Club on St Pius Tenth), who had finished last in Kochi.
At Kottapuram, Thunder Oars (KBC & FBC on Payipadan Chundan) slipped in their show to finish eighth. Pride Chasers (Vembanad Boat Club on Ayaparambu Pandi) came last. The prizes were given away by Benny Behannan, MP.
Earlier, Minister Rajan, while inaugurating the races, said the state government was considering appointment of travel guides by training members of local tourism clubs. The function was presided over by Adv V.R. Sunilkumar, MLA, with Kodungallur Municipality Chairperson T.K. Geetha as the chief guest. Thrissur District Collector V.R. Krishna Teja welcomed the gathering amid the participation of members of civic bodies.
The next races of CBL-3 will be held on September 30 at Piravam in Ernakulam district. The remaining nine races are on October 7 (Thazhathangadi, Kottayam), October 14 (Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha), October 21 (Kainakary, Alappuzha), October 28 (Karuvatta, Alappuzha), November 18 (Kayamkulam, Alappuzha), November 25 (Kallada, Kollam), December 2 (Pandanad, near Chengannur in Alappuzha) and the final on December 9 (at Kollam, along with the President’s Trophy).
The opening races of CBL Season-3 were inaugurated last weekend by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. The inaugural and the second CBL races had their opening legs coinciding with the renowned Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
