ALL YOURS: Mawan pose with winners of the Raft Safari yesterday. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi.
PADAWAN : Team Wanita Kampung Danu have once again retained their Women Open title championship and bagged the coveted trophy plus cash money of RM10,000 at the annual Padawan Raft safari held yesterday.
Clocking 2:40:25 seconds to cover a distance from Kampung Danu to Kampung Git, their tail was closely followed by second place winner, team Relawati Penrissen who clocked 2:43:46. In third place was Lanting Bocor III with a time of 2:46:15.
In the Men Open, rowing their way to first place was team BHR 4 Sekawan who clocked 3:58:55 to walk home with the top prize of RM3,000.
In second was Lanting Bocor I followed by teammate Lanting Bocor II with both teams clocking 4:00:04 and 4:23:12 respectively.
In the government agencies category, the winner was team Charlie PDRM Sarawak who clocked 2:25:28.
Clocking 2:36:46 was team Bravo PDRM Sarawak for second place while in third was RELA Penrissen with 2:43:10.
For the hotel and tour travel agencies, the top prize was clinched by BHR Mutics with a time of 2:32:58 while the second place was won by team Sri Mudeh on 2:41:56. The last place on the podium was taken by team All Star 2 with a time of 2:32:58.
For the kayak category which was flagged off from Kampung Annah Rais to Kampung Git, the winner was team EXO Adventure with a time of 3:58:17.
In second place was Persatuan Kenu Sarawak 1 with a time of 4:21:09 while third was team Aqus Spiro (Unimas) B with a time of 4:31:25.
In the expert category, the winner was team Anak Kampung with a time of 5:20:33 while the second place was team BHR Golf with 5:56:07 while third was team BHR Bunsu Juak with a time of 6:10:53.
Among the side activities of the day was the Padawan Idol which was won by Victoria Yuyun Kapple.
Handing out the prizes yesterday was Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan, MPP chairman Lo Kherre Chiang and Padawan Raft Safari 2012 organising chairman Cr Munded Banat.
Mawan who represented the chief minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said that this year, the event was held earlier in July rather than the traditional month of October.
“The event is held earlier this year to coincide with the holidays in Europe to attract more foreign participants,” said Mawan noting the number of 15 kayak teams and 95 rafting team this year.
With the participation of more foreign teams, Mawan said that this will auger well to the state government’s vision to spur the sports tourism sector.