Coast Dominators score first hat-trick in CBL-3, outshine Tropical Titans
Alleppey / October 14, 2023
Alappuzha, Oct 14: Coast Dominators scored a hat-trick in Champions Boat League Season-3 (CBL-3), outshining current title-holders Tropical Titans in a brilliant strategy at the sixth race today at Pulinkunnu, where Mighty Oars finished third.
Coast Dominators (owned by UBC Kainakary Club, rowing Nadubhagom Chundan) found success in a tactic they employed in the last two races by beginning the final race at ease and, then, towards the last lap surge ahead with the stored energy. At Pulinkunnu, after 700 metres, Coast Dominators overpowered Tropical Titans (rowing the Veeyapuram snake-boat owned by Pallathuruthy Boat Club) who were leading till then. An identical game plan helped the Coast Dominators push the reigning champions at Thazhathangadi (Kottayam) last weekend, while at the September 30 Piravom race (Ernakulam district) it saw both teams share the top honours with an identical timing.
This evening at Pulinkunnu, where the sixth edition of CBL-3 coincided with the Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race, Coast Dominators timed 2:54.61 minutes to emerge victorious, ahead of Tropical Titans at 2:55.42. Mighty Oars (NCDC Boat Club on Niranam Chundan) clocked 2:57.50.
The upset victory by Coast Dominators earned loud cheers from the crowd, as the second half of the 12-leg CBL-3 races now promises immense competition with a spirit of sweet revenge. The races, on the model of IPL cricket and with nine snake-boats, are being organized by Kerala Tourism.
To finish fourth today were Raging Rowers (Police Boat Club on Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekethil), who had at Thazhathangadi last Saturday shared the slot with Mighty Oars. Ripple Breakers (Punnamada Boat Club on Karichal) came fifth, while Backwater Kings (Niranam Boat Club on St Pius Tenth) finished sixth. At seventh were Backwater Warriors (Kumarakom Town Boat Club on Champakulam Chundan), followed by Pride Chasers (Vembanad Boat Club on Ayaparambu Pandi) and Thunder Oars (KBC & FBC on Payipadan Chundan).
Overall, Tropical Titans continue to lead with 56 points, just one mark ahead of Coast Dominators. Mighty Oars occupy the third rank with 43 points.
Agriculture Minister Shri P. Prasad inaugurated the Pulinkunnu races. The function was attended by members of civic bodies and top officials of CBL-3.
The next (seventh) race will be held on October 21 at Kainakary (Alappuzha). The following races are on October 28 (Karuvatta, Alappuzha), November 18 (Kayamkulam, Alappuzha), November 25 (Kallada, Kollam) and December 2 (Pandanad, near Chengannur in Alappuzha) before the final on December 9 (at Kollam, along with the President’s Trophy).
Tropical Titans have been CBL champions in both the previous editions (2019 and ’22). CBL Season-3 began on August 12 at Alappuzha, with the famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
