KUCHING: Team Landas (Land and Survey) retained the coveted ‘King of the River’ title when their team of 30 strong men rowed their ‘Bidar’ boat across the finishing line in a 1.8Km race along the Sarawak river during the Sarawak Regatta 2010 here yesterday.
CHAMPIONS: Sudarsono (top) holds the champions trophy at a prize presentation ceremony with other winners and officials yesterday. Also seen are Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan (left) and Tun Salahuddin (third left).
Flagged off from Kampung Pulo Hilir to the finishing line, it was a clear-cut win for team Landas, who gained a comfortable lead over 12 bidar other teams.
Coming in second were team Jang followed by team Pusaka Lapan.
With the win, team Landas can celebrate well with their coveted trophy which was handed by the Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhamad Salahuddin as well as the cash prize of RM3,500.
For second placed team Jang, they took home RM3,000 while the third placed Pusaka Lapan RM2,500.
Finishing fourth were team ASF Puteri Dang Balai who took home RM1,500 while the fifth placed team Sri Urai 1 RM1,000.
Declared as ‘kings’ for the 2010 edition, team Landas is a renown team in Sarawak regattas backed by their strong track records of winning the titles back to back for the past 27 years.
Seeing a slump in 2006, 2007 and 2008 when they lost the titles, Landas quickly gained their momentum and were well on course as they hauled back the title in 2009 and defended it well again this year. “I am very happy with this year’s results,” said Sarawak Land and Survey Department director Datu Sudarsono Osman.
He also said the win was a result from a good teamwork and discipline the team had shown during the preparation period and on race days.
“We hope that next year, we can manage to retain the title. We have to work real hard from now,” he added.
Sudarsono also said besides the ‘King of the River’ title, Landas also managed to win the championship title of the Bidar 20-person Men category.