ALAPPUZHA: ‘Gabriel Chundan’ representing Thuruthipuram Boat Club from Ernakulam on Saturday emerged winners in a pulsating race at the 65th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race(NTBR)at the Punnamada Lake here. Skippered by Oommen Jacob, ’Gabriel Chundan’ romped home in 4.17. 42 minutes after edging out ‘Mahadevikad Kattilthekkethu’ rowed by United Boat Club, Kainakari and ‘Payippadan’ rowed by Vembanad Boat Club which came in second and third in 4.17. 72 minutes and 4.17.99 minutes,respectively. The failure of the starting system delayed the race by more than an hour.
‘Chiramel Thottukadavan’ of New Drops Boat Club, Kainakari defeated ‘Abraham Monnu Thaikkal’ in the veppu ‘B’ grade category.
In iruttukuthy ‘B’ category ‘Vadakkumnathan’ rowed by Vadakkunathan Boat Club Thrissur and in churulan category ‘Velangadan’ rowed by NBC Kumarakom emerged victorious.
In the exhibtion race for snakeboats Vadakke Attupuram rowed by Friends Boat Club Punnamada walked away with the honours.‘Sarathi’rowed by the members of Puthoorans Boat Club Alappuzha won in ‘thekkenodi thara’ category and ‘Chellikadan’ rowed by Sreevalsam Vanitha Boat Club, Cheruthana won in ‘kettuvallam’ category.
Boat race displays unity of people: CM
Alappuzha: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday the Nehru Trophy Boat Race displays the unity of people which is a model to the nation. Irrespective of caste and creed, villages unite for the success of the boat race, he said. “The boat race is associated with the life and culture of the people of Kuttanad. The race helps foster communal harmony,” he said. Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, state ministers T M Thomas Isaac, G Sudhakaran, P Thilothaman, Kadakampally Surendran, Thomas Chandy, E Chandrasekharan and Mathew T Thomas and District Collector Veena N Madhavan spoke.