Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2014

SUNDAY, 02 MARCH 2014 22:44

Sungai Brunei, a picturesque river steeped in culture and history, became the site of intense sporting competition yesterday, with

more than 900 local and foreign participants - including boat racers from neighbouring Sarawak and Nanjing, People's Republic of

China - putting in their best efforts towards obtaining top honours in the Third Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2014.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi

Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to take part in a special boat race in the afternoon, and

subsequently to present prizes to winners in the several events.

His Majesty was greeted on arrival at the Royal Wharf, Bandar Seri Begawan by the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources,

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar;

the Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin

Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman; and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma

Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah as Joint Advisors to the Executive Committee for the Brunei

Darussalam Regatta 2014. Accompanying His Majesty were His Majesty's sons and daughter, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-

Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik; His

Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Wakeel; and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah.

Shortly on arrival, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to take part in the Special 15-man

Fibreglass Boat Race, the afternoon's opening event. A total of 7 teams competed in the special race. His Majesty led the Regatta

Organising Committee Team A, which used the boat called "Rajawali".

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, meanwhile, led Regatta Organising Committee Team 'B', using the boat named "Punai". The

1-kilometre special race along Brunei River started at the waters off Kampung Tamoi Ujung and finished in front of the Royal Dias

at the Royal Wharf. The Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2014 is the one event that is tipped to further heighten the prestige of water

sports in Brunei Darussalam.

The special race was won by Regatta Organising Committee Team 'A' led by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei

Darussalam. Regatta Organising Committee Team 'B', which was led by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, won second place,

while the Titled Persons Team finished third. The Brunei Darussalam Regatta undoubtedly hits the mark in terms of the

government's efforts in further advancing the tourism industry in the country, based on the concept, "Know Our Country".
His Majesty later consented to view the Brunei Darussalam Regatta Commemorative Exhibition at the Royal Wharf Art Gallery. The

exhibition aims to allow visitors to appreciate and marvel at the glory days of boat racing on the Brunei River from the 1930s right

up till 2013.

The exhibition is a side activity held to enliven the Brunei Darussalam Regatta. Also on display are "Then and Now" photographs

showing the difference between regattas of past eras and today, as well as newspaper clippings trophies and medals, and models

of racing boats. The exhibition is open to the public daily from 9 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon. On Fridays, it's open from 9

to 11.30 in the morning and again from 2.30 until 5 in the afternoon.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam then consented to watch more highly competitive and high

octane races such as the 20-man Invitational Fibreglass Boat Race, the 6-lap Open SST-60 Class Speed Boat Race and the 12-

round Open 4-Roundabout Jet Ski Race. The country's citizens and residents, as well as foreign visitors, thronged the Royal Wharf

and filled the banks of Sungai Brunei to watch the highly entertaining races. The atmosphere was one of excitement, as could be

seen in the facial expressions and the support from the spectators.

Among the other highlights of the Regatta was the 30-man Traditional Boat Marathon, which started at Kuala Sungai Lumapas. His

Majesty consented to launch the race.

Nine teams from Brunei Darussalam and 5 teams from Sarawak, Malaysia took part in the race. Strong unity and a formidable

fighting spirit enabled the participants to rise up to the challenge of the gruelling long-distance event.

The almost 4 kilometre 30-man Traditional Boat Marathon was won by Team Putera Kuala Lawas of Sarawak, Malaysia. The

Ministry of Industry and primary resources sports council took second place and in third was the Gamta Brunei Darussalam Team.

His Majesty consented to present prizes to the winners. The Regatta Organising Committee 'A', winners of the Special 15-man

Fibreglass Boat Race, won the Champion's Trophy, medals and a $3,000 cash prize.

The 20-man Invitational Fibreglass Boat Race, meanwhile, was won by Brunei Darussalam 'C', who received a trophy, medal and

$3,000. The winner of the 6-lap SST-60 Speed Boat Race, local participant Abu Jani Haji Ura, received the Duli Yang Teramat Mulia

Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Challenge Trophy and a $2,500- cash prize. Local participant Haji Idzam Norhaidi bin Haji

Mashud, winner of the 12-lap 4-Roundabout Jet Ski Race, received a trophy, medal and $700.00. The 30-man Traditional Boat

Marathon winners, Team Putera Kuala Lawas of Sarawak, Malaysia received the Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri

Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam Challenge Trophy and a $6,000 cash prize.

The Brunei Darussalam Regatta is one major traditional sporting event that has undeniably withstood the tests of time. It has

shown that the water sports could be expanded even further to garner greater attention and participation from not just within the

Brunei Bay area but also from abroad. The Third Brunei Darussalam Regatta has thus reached its objective, successfully rekindling

the nostalgia of the golden era of boat racing in Kampong Ayer, along Brunei River, while at the same time bringing the crowds

back to the heart of the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Regatta Morning Events

SUNDAY, 02 MARCH 2014 22:44
The Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2014 began yesterday with the 25-man Inter-ministry Traditional Boat race. His Royal Highness

Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior

Minister at the Prime Minister's Office consented to launch and subsequently to watch the highly anticipated event.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was greeted on arrival at the Royal Wharf, Bandar Seri Begawan by the Minister of Industry

and Primary Resources, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim

Dato Paduka Haji Bakar; the Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji

Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman; and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin

Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah as Joint Advisors to the Executive

Committee for the Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2014. Accompanying His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was His Royal Highness

Prince 'Abdul Malik Ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah.

Boarding a special boat, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince consented to proceed to the waters off Kampong Tamoi Ujung -

located 1 Kilometre from the Royal Wharf - to officially launch the event starting with the 25-man Inter-Ministry traditional boat race.

Eight teams - namely the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Development, Ministry of

Communications, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs -

competed in the boat race.

The race was won by Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, while Prime Minister's Office finished second, and Ministry of

Defence, third.

A total of 8 events were competed in four categories, namely Row Boat, Water Taxi, Jet Ski and Speed Boat. The morning races

included the 30-horsepower Speed Boat race, the 15-man invitational fibreglass boat race, the 50-horsepower and below Speed

Boat race and the 4-stroke normally aspirated Jet Ski race.

The events were followed by the 15-man Invitational Fibreglass Boat Race involving 5 teams from Brunei Darussalam, one team

from Nanjing, People's Republic of China and two teams from Malaysia. The race was won by Team Brunei Darussalam 'C' with

their boat named "Kitang", while Team Brunei Darussalam 'E' finished second with their boat "Pimping" and Malaysia 'A' finished

third, using a boat called "Jelatuk".

Another team boat race held YESTERDAY was the 25-man Open Traditional Boat Race, participated by teams from various

government departments, mukims, villages, a district, uniformed groups and private sector organisations, as well as some teams

from Sarawak, Malaysia. "Gamta Brunei Darussalam" emerged champions in the race, while "Pasukan Pewaris Kuala Lawas"

finished second, and Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council, third.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also consented to sound off the six-lap 60-S-S-T Speed Boat race.
His Royal Highness then consented to present prizes to winners of the morning races. The winners received cash prizes, trophies

and medals.

The Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2014 was organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture,

Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. A major sporting event on the Brunei Darussalam calendar,

the Regatta is highly anticipated by the country's citizens and residents, and has even attracted participants and spectators from

abroad. The participation of more than 900 people - both local and foreign - clearly signifies the overwhelming reception towards

this unique event. This traditional sporting event not only serves to help preserve culture and heritage for generations to come, but

also adds to the attraction of Bandar Seri Begawan and thus further elevates the name of Brunei Darussalam in the eyes of the

world.

Friendly Nations Participate in Regatta

SUNDAY, 02 MARCH 2014 22:44

High Commissioners, Ambassadors and Representatives of friendly nations in the

country also showed their paddling skills with citizens and residents of the country by participating in the Regatta Brunei

Darussalam 2014. Participating in the 15 paddlers Fibre Glass Boat Special Race, several Heads of Mission expressed their pride

after being selected to take part in this traditional water sports.