Boracay rowers rule first day of Dragon Boat Quest

BORACAY – A mixed team of bartenders, musicians, resort owners, teachers, employees, businessmen and housewives – all from Boracay – dominated the Mixed Open and Men’s Open categories of the second Philippine International Dragon Boat Quest 2003, which opened its first run yesterday here.

Two of three Boracay teams – Bugsay Boracay Blades A (mixed men and women), and Boracay Sun Paddlers (all men) -- led teams from Manila in the first two heats held under the intense Boracay sun which forced the organizers to move another heat to the next day.

The first heat had Bugsay Boracay Blades A clocking 2:28 minutes compared to the 2:39 minutes of PCU-St. Scholastica. Manila Dragons placed third (2:44) followed by Bugsay Boracay Blades 1 (2:49).

Bugsay Boracay Blades A again dominated the second heat by a dragon’s breath of 2:34 minutes, a second ahead of PCU-St. Scholastica’s 2:35 minutes. Third place went to Manila Dragons who clocked 2:44 against the 2:47 of Bugsay Boracay Blades 1.

The Men’s Open yesterday saw the Boracay Sun Paddlers’ dominance in the two heats, ending with a finish of 2:19 in the first heat and 2:18 in the second. Bugsay Boracay placed second in the first heat of the Men’s Open in 2:31 , followed by Manila Paddlers (2:33).

The second heat of the Men’s Open saw an exciting rush to second place by Bugsay Boracay with 2:28, overtaking last-minute tail-ender Manila Paddlers who clocked 2:31.

One-fourth of the famous seven-kilometer white sand beach of Boracay was filled with tourists, paddlers, hangers-on and natives who witnessed the opening ceremonies at 8 a.m.

The second Philippine International Dragon Boat Quest 2003 is sponsored by Pioneer Epoxy, Gatorade, Snapple, Premier Wines & Spirits, Inc., the Manila Times, the Department of Tourism and philstar.com. Other sponsors are Lorenzo Resorts, Aqua Sports Water Sports & Equipment, Baling Hai Beach Resort, Brent International, Frendz Resort, Jammers, Mrs. Moon Chinese, Wok, Kitchen & Take Away, Nigi Nigi Nu Noos "e" Nu Nu Noos Beach Resort, Sea Lovers Bar & Restaurant, SPR Real Estate, Summer Place Bar & Mongolian Grill, Hey Jude Bar and Restaurant, Schaanti, Real Coffee and Tea Cafe, Bombom Bar, Blossoms, and Yes FM.

Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 pupils of the Brent International School performed a Dragon Dance to the delight of onlookers, photographers and journalists. Older students also had a dragon boat race exhibition, a culmination of several months of after-school practice.