CBL-5: Pride Chasers Repeat Win at Pulinkunnu

ALAPPUZHA:
Pride Chasers maintained their winning spree by emerging first today at the Pulinkunnu race of the fifth season of the Champions Boat League (CBL-5) in a photo finish that pushed reigning title-holders Tropical Titans to the second place by microseconds.

Ripple Breakers came third in the sunny evening amid cheers from the spectators of the IPL-style league competition for snake-boats, organized by Kerala Tourism.

Pride Chasers, rowing the Veeyapuram Chundan owned by Veeyapuram Village Boat Club, clocked 2:56:383 minutes to emerge victorious, repeating their feat at the previous CBL-5 races in Kainakary, Thazhathangadi (Kottayam), Piravom (Ernakulam district) and Kottapuram (Kodungallur).

It was a narrow loss today for Tropical Titans (Melpadam Chundan rowed by Pallathuruthy Boat Club), who finished in 2:56:443 minutes. Ripple Breakers (Nadubhagam Chundan rowed by Punnamada Boat Club) came third at 2:57:819 minutes.

Pride Changers repeated their new strategy that had made them toppers at Kottapuram last week. The team, unlike in the first three matches of CBL-5, surged ahead with full energy right from start, unlike the earlier tactic of taking a lead from half-time. For Pride Chasers, Kuttanad was a familiar territory, too.

From halfway, Tropical Titans, who had been the CBL champions for the last four times, fully employed their energies at Pulinkunnu. That gave Pride Chasers a tough competition, in contrast to the first half where it seemed heading for an easy victory. Eventually, they finished just 60 microseconds ahead of Tropical Titans.

At fourth were Chundan Warriors (Naduvile Paramban of Emmanuel Boat Club), followed by Super Oars (Niranam Chundan of Niranam Boat Club.) Finishing sixth was Thunder Oars (Karichal Chundan of KCBC) and seventh was Backwaters Warriors (Payipadaan boat of Kumarakom Town Boat). Backwater Sharks (Cheruthana of Thekkekkara Boat Club) came eighth and Wave Gliders (Champakulam of Changanassery Boat Club) finished last.

Shri Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, inaugurated the competitions. Shri Thomas K Thomas MLA presided over the ceremony, which was attended by Pulinkunnu Grama Panchayat President Smt Neenu Joseph, Vice-President Shri Joshy Kollara. Tourism Department Joint Director and CBL Nodal Officer Shri Abhilash Kumar T.G., Deputy Director Dr Ansar K.A.S. (CBL State Coordinator) and Tourism Department (Alappuzha) Deputy Director Shri Prabhath D.V., besides CBL Technical Committee members and representatives of the three-tier civic bodies.

The club that wins first place in the championship will receive Rs 25 lakh; the runner-up will receive Rs 15 lakh. The third-place winner will receive Rs 10 lakh. The winners of each competition will receive Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh for the first, second and third place winners respectively. Each team will also receive a bonus of Rs 4 lakh.