Here Come the Navy!!!

After two and a half years of absence, the Navy is coming back with nothing but the crown in mind. The Philippine Navy will be joining the 2nd Cobra-PDBF International Club Crew Challenge In Dauis this Apr 26-30, intent on showing the skills that have made them the dominant force in the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation (PCKF).

In the showcase events of the 200 and 500 meters open division, they will be hotly contested by the present Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) champion, Lake Buhi, and its chief challenger, the Army. This will be a three-cornered fight that promises to bring the dragon boat community to the edge of their seats.

The Navy will bring in a complete team with paddlers in the women’s and mixed divisions as well. They will challenge Triton and the steadily-improving Philippine Coastguard for both divisions. The Navy will be favored in the mixed division with the presence of their seasoned internationalists. They will contend in the 200m sprints, the 500m middle distance and the 2km long distance events. They will also figure in the 200m small boat added attraction sponsored by Smart Philippines.

 The Navy team collected an unbroken string of 12 consecutive championships since 2011, the year they joined the PCKF leagues. They last held the Cobra Dragon Boat Championship in 2010, before the dragon boat community split in half. The Navy boasts of 7 internationalists who figured well In the recent International Canoe Federation (ICF)-sponsored World Championship in Italy last year. With their impressive credentials, the Navy will be a formidable force to reckon with.

The 2nd Cobra – PDBF International Club Crew Challenge is produced by the Provincial Government of Bohol, the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, and Tapok Tapok Bol-anon; with Cobra, Philex, Smart Philippines and Cetaphil. Co-producing the event are Lj Lumayag of K & N Productions, Bohol Paddlers Association, Tagbilaran City, and the municipalities of Dauis and Maribojoc, Rotary Tagbilaran and Jaycees Bohol.

The major sponsors are: Bluewater Panglao, Bellevue Hotel, First Consolidated Bank, TIESA, and Zoocolate Thrills. Other sponsors include: DOT, Oishi, 2Go, AMR, Starlite, Eskaya, Ramasola Studios, Truckworld, Island Prints and Cong Rene Relampagos.

The media partners include: the Manila Bulletin, Sports Digest, Philippine Star, Business Mirror, TV5, Solar Sports, Sports Unlimited, BCCTV, Bohol Chronicle, DYRD and DZRH.

Watch out for the ‘Battle of Champions’ at the 2nd Cobra-PDBF International Club Crew Challenge in Dauis, Bohol this April 26-30.