CBL-4: PBC are Champions Again, Despite Losing Last Match to VBC

KOLLAM:
Pallathuruthy Boat Club (PBC) retained the Champions Boat League title for the fourth consecutive time by virtue of topping the overall table, despite finishing second at today’s President’s Trophy, which marks the six and last round of the championship.

Rowing the Karichal snake-boat, PBC earned the cash prize of Rs 25 lakh as well as the trophy at the races in the city. Village Boat Club (VBC) came first and Nirnam Boat Club third at today’s races, marking an exciting climax to the nine-team championship organised by Kerala Tourism. VBC, rowing Veeyapuram, clocked 3.53:85 minutes, while PBC finished in 3.55:14 minutes and Niranam Boat Club (bowing Niranam snake-boat) in 3.55:64 minutes.

All the three boats put on a fiery show on the Ashtamudi backwaters, where a determined VBC rowed with a steady edge and never let their two rivals to overtake them. At no point did VBC, rowing Veeyapuram, pop the chance of a photo-finish. PBC, fearing the prospect of losing the CBL title if they finished third here, rowed with all energy. The team had earlier this evening sensed a threat from Niranam, which set the best time in the heats and was ahead initially in the finals. Towards the last lap, though, PBC staged a dramatic surge that enabled them to finish second — with a margin of mere 50
microseconds. Thus, adding nine more points from the Kollam race, PBC succeeded in clinching their fourth CBL title with 58 points overall, which was one digit above VBC. Niranam got 48 points.

The fourth edition of CBL, however, saw rival teams challenging PBC’s traditional infallibility. In fact, it was by mere microseconds PBC became the winner in the championship’s earlier races at Kainakary, Karuvatta and Kayamkulam. Rivals VBC even won at Pandanad, yet PBC clung on with an overall lead as the team never dropped below the second place. This track-record enabled them to eventually become champions.

The prizes were jointly distributed by Kollam Mayor Prasanna Ernest, N.K. Premachandran, MP; and MLAs M. Mukesh and M. Noushad. Others present at the ceremony included Tourism Director Sikha Surendran, CBL Governing Council members and representatives of local self-government institutions.

The other teams at CBL were UBC Kainakary (Thalavady), Kumarakom Town Boat Club (Nadubhagam), Punnamada Boat Club (Champakulam), Kumarakom Boat Club (Melpadam), Alappuzha Town Boat Club (Payippad) and Changanassery Boat Club (Ayaparamba Valiyadivanji).

The teams finishing first, second and third in the league matches got Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh, and Rs 1 lakh, respectively. Based on the overall performance in the six races each, the topper got Rs 25 lakh, the runner-up Rs 15 lakh and the team finishing third Rs 10 lakh. After each match, as a bonus, all the participating teams received Rs 3 lakh, and the snake- boat owners got Rs 1 lakh each.