KUWAIT CITY, May 6: Al Sayer continued their unbroken winning streak at the Twenty Third Annual Raft Race held Friday at Aqua Park. This year’s tournament was more power packed than the previous year with more teams taking part, although there were fewer categories.

Al Sayer came up trumps in all the categories and walked away with the champions’ trophy. ABB showed marked improvement in their performance this year and were the only team to throw some sort of a challenge to Al Sayer.

Al Sayer had moved away from their usual color, red, and opted a dazzling orange this time round, adding color to the tournament. Their shark headed raft grabbed eye balls, though Lays beat them to the Best Design Trophy.

There were a total of 13 teams: 4 from Al Sayer, 2 from Lays, 2 from Sultan Center, 2 from Kuwait Agricultural Company, 2 from ABB and Barakat Company.

The big guns, Al Sayer and ABB, were pitted against each other in the opening race in the prelims, setting the pace for the day ahead. Men’s Welded and Mixed Welded were the only two categories. All the women’s categories were done away with this year as there was only one women’s team — from Al Sayer — that enlisted for the race.

The crucial Men’s Welded race was clinched by Al Sayer Toyota, in a closely contested race, the tides switching between Al Sayer and ABB in the first lap. However, ABB lost steam towards the end, and came rocking the wake of Toyota, who plowed into finish with a comfortable lead.

The victory was celebrated with loud cheers at the gallery. Speaking to Arab Times, Khalid Al Enezi, captain of Al Sayer, said the competition was very strong this year with more teams participating.
“We did not have much time to practice and put in just one month’s practice. However, we are all highly excited by the event, which we have made a habit of winning.

“We swept all the categories clean, and we are happy by the victory this year, because when there are more teams taking part the victory becomes more deserving and sweeter.”
Khalid regretted the missed opportunity for his women’s teams, “because the women’s categories were cancelled this year due to a lack of participants.”

The Al Sayer captain was piqued by the innovative design of their rafts. He made special mention of the one painted like a shark’s head and appeared like a pair sharks cutting through water with an eerie grimace.
However, he took the fact that the prize for the best design was awarded to Lays in good spirit. “We can’t be taking all the trophies away,” he added with a chuckle.
“We wanted to win this competition and we won it.” He lauded ABB saying “they gave a good fight.”
In the Men’s Welded Category Al Sayer Toyota breached the finished line in 4.42 min, followed by ABB in nearly 6 min. Kuwait Agricultural Company finished third.
Toyota’s CEO, Paul Reno, who was there to cheer his team, said “we have been winning the trophy since 1997.”
Four of Al Sayer teams participated on Friday in two categories. Khalid, the captain, said the teams worked hard for a month, practicing three to four hours every day. Al Sayer built two new rafts this year and entered the race with scores of team members, including substitutes.
Though there were many teams taking part, there weren’t many bedlams kicked up over close decisions or clashing oars as seen in some of earlier races. However, the tournament was not without grouses.
One of ABB team members, Arshad Abdal Aziz said Toyota obstructed their path closing their winning chances. “When a side has more than two teams, they can manipulate the race with one team supporting the other.”
Arshad was happy nevertheless. “It was an exciting day with a lot of activities. All the teams enjoyed racing, and that’s most important.”
ABB had not come so well prepared, and were not able to put in many days of practice. “We are happy that were able to come second place in some of the races.”
The spirit of the race was alive with cheering squads and a good turnout of spectators. The championship was a whitewash by Al Sayer when their rowing power couldn’t be matched by other teams in both the categories.
In the mixed category, the contest was between Al Sayer Lexus and Sultan Center. This once again proved to be a one-sided contest by the time the race reached the second lap. Sultan Center were no were in sight when Lexus and finished the race. In this category Al Sayer increased its lead by clocking 4.55 min, while Sultan Center clocked 7 min.
Al Sayer beat Sultan Center by a yawning gap of nearly 2 min. The third place was taken by Lays.
There was no serious challenge to thrown at Al Sayer, and competitors simply were reduced to spectators in Sayer’s audacious march to victory. They had to be satisfied with consolation prizes. Lays won the prize for the best design, while Kuwait Agriculture Company won the prize for the best dressed team.
Mohammed Khurshid, Managing Director of Aqua Park, who spoke at the close of the tournament, said Aqua Park has launched a water theme park project in Qatar spanning 50,000 sq m. “It is going to be truly unique and modern, and will be the first of its kind in the Middle East.
“Aqua Park is also planning to enter the Saudi Arabian market.” He said Aqua Park was launched in Kuwait in 1996 and has been a very successful project.
Khurshid was of the opinion that tourism in Kuwait is not being promoted well. He saw a big economic opportunity in tourism in Kuwait, and said it’s time to overhaul the tourism industry in the state.
Team Al Sayer celebrated boisterously as they took the trophy and danced to music. There were hugs and kisses, clapping and shimmying. Music from loud speakers blared. Golden trophies glinted in the sun as they broke the horizon lifted by the hands of revelers.
Winners
Men’s Welded Category
1. Al Sayer Toyota
2. ABB
3. Kuwait Agriculture
Mixed Welded Category
1. Al Sayer Lexus
2. Sultan Center
3. Lays