Phoong (sixth left, back) presenting the Sabah Head of State Trophy to N82 Bukit Sari Lawas of Sarawak.

KOTA KINABALU (May 18): N82 Bukit Sari Lawas of Sarawak paddled their way to the Sabah Head of State Trophy in the 10th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race in Likas Bay here on Sunday.

This was the first time N82 Bukit Sari Lawas won the main title in the annual race organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS).

Bukit Sari Lawas won in a record time of 3:38.55s to edge seven other finalists in the 800m race.

Lautan Biru SLDB Dragon Boat Team Tuaran finished second in 3:41.66s while Jetama Entulon Family DBT third in 3:42.58s.

Bahtiar Sajeli, the team manager of N82 Bukit Sari Lawas, was a mirror of happiness when met after the prize presentation by Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe.

“We were quite confident going into the final race based on our performance in the heat.

“We finished second (in the heat) but we did well considering the time we achieved.

“So, we went back and conducted a post mortem to identify and rectify our weaknesses as well as to plan our strategy.

“It went well and we are very happy to have won the TYT Trophy,” he said.

Bahtiar went on to say that the team, which finished second in the Sabah Chief Minister Trophy last year, underwent a one-month training after the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri to prepare for the FCAS race.

“Our focus next is the inaugural Lawas International Dragon Boat and Cultural Festival from May 22-25,” added Bahtiar.

Ten other finals also took place on Sunday which saw Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) emerge winners in three of the categories.

KKCCCI teams won in the FCAS Trophy for HZ & Local Kota Kinabalu FCAS Member Mixed Team (minimum eight women) category, FCAS Trophy for Malaysian Chinese Mixed Team (minimum eight women) and FCAS Trophy for Malaysian Chinese Men’s Team event.

The rest of the winning teams were Jetama Entulon Family Senior in the Sabah Chief Minister Trophy; RMP Paddlers (Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy for International & Malaysian Mixed Team); Sibling Performance Team (Kinabalu Junior Trophy for local junior 15-20 years old teams; PS Dragon Boat Team (Kinabalu Dragon Trophy Men’s Team Open); Dragon Boat Club CUHK (Kinabalu Trophy Mixed Team Open); Karapaw (Kinabalu Phoenix Trophy Women’s Team); and PNK Master Dragon Boat (Kinabalu Master Trophy International & Malaysian Men’s Team).

The top three teams also received prize money – in the Sabah Head of State Trophy RM10,000, RM5,000 and RM3,000; Sabah Chief Minister’s Trophy and Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy (RM8,000, RM4,000, RM2,000); and the rest of the categories RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,000.

Meanwhile, FCAS president Tan Sri TC Goh said despite heavy rain midway into the final day on Sunday, the races went well without any untoward incidents.

“The Sabah FCAS dragon boat race took place successfully and well done to all including the participants who have helped made it happened,” he told reporters.

The event this year saw new high of 75 registered teams, including from Singapore, Hong Kong and Brunei Darussalam. Overall 141 teams comprising 988 paddlers were involved in the 11 categories contested.

All the winning teams also set new records in their respective category, said Goh.

“Hopefully next year there will be more teams, including international entries, for the dragon boat race. “We have set May 15-17 for next year’s race and it also coincides with the Harvest Festival month. “So, hopefully the participants will not only come here to compete but to visit and tour around,” said Goh.

Earlier, Phoong who represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, led in the symbolic opening of the final day race and presenting the prizes to the top three winning teams.

FCAS deputy president-cum-organising chairperson Datuk Susan Wong and invited guests including Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah were also present

Full Results

Sabah Head of State Trophy

N82 Bukit Sari Lawas 3:38.55s

Lautan Biru SLDB Tuaran 3:41.66s

Jetama Entulon Family DBT 3:42.58s

Sabah Chief Minister Trophy

Jetama Entulon Family Senior 3:41.09s

Landas Kasihnya Warisan 3:41.67s

Sri Sundar 3:42.11s

Sabah FCAS Dragon Trophy

RMP Paddlers 3:54.97s

DBKL 3:58.43s

Sabah River Raptors ITCC 3:59.51s

FCAS Trophy (HZ & Local KK FCAS Member Mixed Team)

KKCCCI 3:53.61s

KK Hakka DBT 3:56.23s

MACMA – Mushu 4:13.27s

FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese Mixed Team)

KKCCCI 3:53.83s

Kuching Dragon Boat Club 3:57.80s

KK Hakka DBT 3:58.47s

FCAS Trophy (Malaysian Chinese Men’s Team)

KKCCCI 3:48.14s

Kuching Dragon Boat Club 3:57.11s

KK Hakka DBT 3:58.79s

Kinabalu Junior Trophy

Sibling Performance Team 3:45.46s

Lentuong Junior SLDB Team 3:46.14s

Jetama Entulon Family Junior 3:46.72s

Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (Local Junior Boys)

PS Dragon Boat Team 61.47s

Sri Sundar 61.73s

Dragon Boat Labuk Beluran 62.27s

Kinabalu Mixed Trophy

Dragon Boat Club CUHK 61.05s

DBKL 63.21s

Sabah River Raptors ITCC 63.35s

Kinabalu Phoenix Trophy

Karapaw 66.48s

KKCCCI 67.14s

Kuching Dragon Boat Club 68.14s

Kinabalu Master Trophy

PNK Master Dragon Boat 59.90s

DBKL 60.59s

Lela Cheteria 61.59s