Kannur, September 23, 2013: The North Malabar boat race organised as part of the Onam festival and Tourism week observance by the District Tourism Promotion Council in association with the Navodaya Arts and Sports Club, Mangalasseri got off to a colourful start as 20 teams battled it out on the the Kuppam- Mangalassery river on Sunday.

Teams competed in three categories of events – the 25-member and 15-member ‘Churulan’ boat race and the 15-member country boat race. MLA, T.V. Rajesh, film actor Bheeman Raghu, industrialist Bobby Chemmannoor flagged off the race.

The Krishna Pillai memorial Arts and Sports Club ‘B’ team of Kavinchira, Kasaragod turned winners in the 25-member Churulan boat race in the 800-metre stretch while the EMS memorial Arts and Sports Club, Muzhakkeel, Kasaragod, won the second prize in the event.

They were awarded Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 30,000 respectively.

In the 15-member Churulan boat race event, Krishna Pillai Memorial Arts and Sports Club ‘A’ team became the winners while their own ‘B’ team rowed in to capture the second place. The prize money the winners got was Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively.

The Kuppam gramavedi of Mukkunnu near here won the 15-member country boat race closely followed by Azheekkodan Memorial Sports Club, Kottakkunnu.

They winning teams were awarded Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively.

Source: The Hindu, September 23, 2013