The newly-minted Bohol Paddlers Association (BPA) recently acquired the first feather on its cap by successfully pulling off the 1st Inato Dragon Boat Club Crew Challenge last Mar 22-23 in Dauis, Bohol. The Dauis Wild Dragons scored an exciting upset by edging the more-experienced Tribu Maribojoc in the 200-meter open category of the competition. Before a large appreciative crowd, this first-ever event signals Bohol’s bid to become a dragon boat power in the country in the years ahead.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle royale,with the veteran Maribojoc team taking the early lead after a fast start off the gate. The newly-formed Dauis paddlers however found their rhythm at the halfway point and slowly overhauled the Maribojoc lead. It was neck-to-neck at the last quarter, before Dauis uncorked a last-gasp finishing kick that literally nosed out Maribojoc. The finish video showed Dauis leading by less than a quarter of a boat, underscoring the intensity of the open finals. Bohol Tourist Police came in third, while the Lions Club of Bohol copped the fourth spot.
In the 200 meter mixed category, the Dauis paddle-pushers once again showed their mettle by outlasting another Maribojoc entry, Bugsay Maribojoc, in another gritty finals. Third place went to the Big J – Baji combination, while coming in fourth was the Antonov – Baji tandem. The thrilling duels in the open and mixed categories ushers in a fresh new rivalry between Dauis and Maribojoc in the annals of Bohol Dragon Boating.
The 1st Inato Dragon Boat Extravaganza was produced by the Bohol Paddlers Association led by Dr Doyet Dumaluan, in preparation for the 2nd Cobra- PDBF International Club Crew Challenge this April 26-30 to be hosted by Bohol at the same venue in Dauis.
This April Dragon Boat offering is expected to lure a huge crowd with an initial cast featuring the members of the national team that won the world championship in Tampa, Florida last 2011. These world-renowned national athletes will be competing against each other. Expected to duke it out are the heavyweights in dragon boat competition: Army, Navy, Lake Buhi, Coast Guard, Triton, and a Macau-based team, SJM. Aside from other Luzon-based teams, there will teams from Agusan and Lanao joining, providing this competition a truly mixed flavor.
The 2nd Cobra – PDBF International Club Crew Challenge is envisioned to boost the tourism program, as well as the sports and youth development program of the local government. It is produced by the Provincial Government of Bohol, the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, Tapok Tapok Bol-anon, Cobra, Philex, the Sandugo Foundation, Smart and Cetaphil; with Lj Lumayag of K & N Productions, Bohol Paddlers Association, Tagbilaran City, and the municipalities of Dauis and Maribojoc co-producing.
The major sponsors are: Bluewater Panglao, SunLife, Sun Cellular, First Consolidated Bank, Hyundai and Zoocolate Thrills. Other sponsors include: Oishi, 2Go, AMR, Starlite, Eskaya, Ramasola Studios, Truckworld, and Island Prints.
The media partners include: the Manila Bulletin, Sports Digest, Philippine Star, Business Mirror, TV5, Solar Sports, Sports Unlimited, Bohol Chronicle, DYRD and DZRH.
Everyone is invited to watch exciting dragon boat action on April 28-29 in Dauis, Bohol!
Color My World 
PASHARE PO
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Sure, Marj! By all means, share the good news about dragon boating in Bohol. I have other articles on the subject, one of which is about a group of feisty women paddlers in Bohol. Perhaps you might want to join them?
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Reblogged this on Philippine Dragon Boating and commented:
Bohol stages its initial Dragon Boat offering.
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Hi Sir,
Do you have any idea if there is someone in bohol could fabricate a DB boat? and how much would it cost?
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Pls get in touch with Doyet Dumaluan, the President of Bohol Dragonbot Association. I’m sure he can help you. Thanks!
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