Stephen (left) with army officers and men from Briged Ke-9 Infantri Malaysia give the thumbs-up to the raft safari in which they participated and won the Best Decorated Raft title besides other titles. At the centre (standing) is Ugak.
KAPIT: Hulu Rajang MP Wilson Ugak Kumbong officiated at the closing ceremony of this year’s Baleh-Kapit Raft Safari at a specially erected grandstand at the Kapit Terminal late Sunday morning.
The Men’s Bamboo Open category was won by Pemuda PBB Sarawak with a time of 6:40.07 hrs. In second place was Lelaki PRS Baleh (7:15.01 hrs) while Briged Ke-9 Infantri Malaysia came in third (7:33.42 hrs). The consolation prizes were won by Team HR and Lakin PRS Belaga.
Winners for the Men’s Open and Paddle Boat category (with the flag off at the first station) brought home RM3,000 cash prize and a trophy, first runner-up received RM2,500 and a trophy, second runner-up RM1,500 and a trophy while the teams in fourth to tenth places received consolation prize worth RM800 each.
In the Men’s Bamboo Closed, Sempulang Gana F2 clocked 3:34.02 hrs to be declared champion while Landas (3:42.19 hrs) was in second place and Sempulang Gana F1 finished third in a time of 3:44.18 hrs. The consolation prizes went to PBB Machan, JKKK Rumah Weng, Padung Pengerindu Karaoke PUB, Kadico, Agrobank Kapit, Raja Samaruggah and Lelakai PRS Tamin Gemilang.
Meanwhile for the Men’s Bamboo Closed, Free Style and Women Bamboo Closed, the champion team received RM2,000 and a trophy, second place winner took home RM1,500 and a trophy and third place winner went home with RM1,000 and a trophy. Teams in fourth to tenth places received consolation prize of RM500 each.
In Free Style, Usun United JKKK Rumah Pinan was the champion with a time of 3:14.38 hrs, with Bujang G Banyau Pematak Kayau (3:51.10 hrs) finishing second and SDNU Sibu (4:15.33 hr) was in third place. The consolation prizes went to Maybank Kapit, Kapit Polyclinic Team and KPDNKK.
In the Women’s Bamboo category, Wanita PRS Ferarri Nanga Banyau clocked 3:57.26 hrs to be the champion. Biro Wanita RumahWeng (4:15.34 hr) was in second place while Landas (4:22.47 hrs) was third. Wanita PRS Baleh received the consolation prize.
In the boat paddling event, Ouna Kapit was the champion with a time of 5:17.15 hrs, Briged Ke-9 Infantri Malaysia (5:44.29 hr) was second while Dara Jamda NgigaLaki (6:01.04 hr) finished in third place.
In the Best Decorated Raft category, the champion team received RM1,000 and a trophy, first runner-up received RM800 and a trophy while the third prize was RM500 and a trophy.
The judging criteria for the Best Decorated Raft category were based on the concept of traditional materials used and design. In addition, the raft must reach the finishing point.
The Best Decorated Raft title was won by Briged Ke-9 Infantri Malaysia while SDNU Sibu and Bujang Banyau Pematak Kayau were adjudged second and third place winners respectively.
Present at the ceremony were political secretary to the chief minister Jefferson Jamit Unyat, Kapit Resident and organising chairman Fedrick John George, Malaysian First Division Infantry commander Major-General Datuk Stephen Mundaw and head of Staff First Division Colonel Muhamad Huzaimi Sabri.
In his speech, Fedrick said this year 36 teams participated in the various categories of competitions in the regatta which was held over two days from April 11 to 12 that included a new category, the Paddle Boat and Best Decorated Raft category.
The regatta involved two legs with the first flagged off by Ugak at Rumah Alan, Nanga Sekeroh while Minister of Land Development Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing flagged off the second leg at Rumah Weng, Mujong.
Side events included ‘Pesta Kapit’, traditional games, exhibition booths and sale of handicraft, he added.
To add excitement to the premier water sport of the year, Kapit Division Power Boat Association held the HP power boat race which was divided into various categories.