Tourism News
Veeyapuram Chundan Clinches President’s Trophy, PBC Secures Fourth Champions Boat League Title
The thrilling finale of the Champions Boat League (CBL-4) unfolded on December 21 at the President’s Trophy Boat Race on the serene Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam. In an intense showdown, Veeyapuram Chundan, rowed by the Village Boat Club (VBC), emerged victorious, claiming the prestigious President’s Trophy. Pallathuruthy Boat Club (PBC), however, retained its dominance by securing the Champions Boat League title for an impressive fourth consecutive year.
VBC showcased an outstanding performance, completing the race in 3:53:85 minutes, narrowly outpacing PBC’s Karichal snake boat, which clocked 3:55:14 minutes. The Niranam Boat Club followed closely in the third place with a time of 3:55:64 minutes. Despite finishing second in the finale, PBC maintained their lead in the overall standings with 58 points, edging past VBC by just one point. Niranam Boat Club ended the championship in the third place with 48 points.
Pallathuruthy Boat Club rowing Karichal retains CBL title for the fourth time in a row showcasing their consistent excellence throughout the championship. Meanwhile, the triumph of VBC in the President’s Trophy underscored their competitive spirit and precision in rowing, keeping rivals at bay for a decisive win.
The six-race championship organized by Kerala Tourism highlighted the state’s vibrant boat racing tradition. Each race offered lucrative prizes, with the top three teams receiving Rs. 5 lakhs, Rs. 3 lakhs and Rs. 1 lakh, respectively. The overall winner of the league was awarded Rs. 25 lakhs, while the runner-up and the second runner-up teams took home Rs. 15 lakhs and Rs.10 lakhs, respectively. Additionally, every participating team received Rs. 3 lakhs per match, and Rs.1 lakh was given to the owners of the snake boats.
PBC’s journey to the title was marked by victories by razor-thin margins in earlier races held at Kainakary, Karuvatta and Kayamkulam. VBC’s stellar win at Pandanad hinted at a possible upset, but PBC’s consistent top-tier performances ensured they retained their championship lead.
The grand finale was a grand celebration of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage, blending competitive spirit with festivity. The prizes distributed by the Kollam Mayor Smt. Prasanna Earnest, Shri N. K. Premachandran, MP, and MLAs Shri M. Mukesh and Shri M. Noushad, added a ceremonial touch to the event. The President’s Trophy Boat Race brought the league to a spectacular close, emphasizing Kerala’s iconic snake-boat racing tradition as a symbol of unity and community pride.
