Boracay clinches dragon boat crown

BORACAY — Local paddlers clinched the championship in the mixed open, men’s open categories and four-kilometer event at the close of the second Philippine International Dragon Boat Quest 2003 here yesterday.

The Boracay Sun Paddlers continued their winning streak and claimed the top spot in the men’s open category by clocking two minutes, 14 seconds in the last heat. The team dominated the first two heats Friday.

Bugsay Boracay, another men’s team from the island, finished second in 2:21. Manila Paddlers came in third in 2:24.

The mixed open category was clinched by the Bugsay Boracay Blades A, capping its dominance in the first two heats Friday. It had an impressive 2:18 in the third heat and 2:29 in the fourth.

The PCU-St. Scholastica’s College mixed team put up a good fight as it finished second in the mixed open category (2:23) in the third heat and finishing just one second behind the winning team at 2:30 in the fourth. The Manila Dragons settled for third place with 2:25 in the third heat and 2:37 in the fourth heat, beating another Boracay team, the Bugsay Boracay Blades 1‚ in 2:42 and 2:51.

The four-kilometer event was also won by the powerful Boracay Sun Paddlers (19:56) followed by the Bugsay Boracay men’s team (21:59) and Manila Paddlers (22:29). The Boracay Blades women’s team raced to shore amid applause from the crowd in 23:02 to secure the final spot.

The four-kilometer event had the four competing teams paddling non-stop from one end of the island to the other and back.

The 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.