Abbot retains white water rafting title

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

The Asahan International White Water Rafting competition here was officially brought to a close on Monday with a medal presentation ceremony that put Australian defending champion Mike Abbot in the limelight.

Abbot cruised to victory in the most prestigious international kayaking event after winning the down-the-river, the final event in the three-day competition, in a time of 22 minutes and 7.68 seconds. This result gave him the highest total points of 880 and the winner's US$8,000 cash prize.

The total prize money of $24,500 was 10 times that of last year.

In the final event that required competitors to endure the rapids over three kilometers near the mainstream of the Asahan River, Abbot beat compatriots Jared Meehan and Mark Eames, who finished second and third respectively.

Meehan and Eames were also came second and third in the overall standings with 825 and 815 points respectively.

Despite his success, Abbot failed to retain the head-to-head event which was won by Allan Ellard of England.

Abbot also had to be content with second place behind Andy Philips, also from England, in the rodeo event. The Englishman displayed his mastery in surviving the rocks and the Asahan waterfall.

The Asahan run has a difficulty grade of 5.8, one of the toughest routes in the world.

In the national event, the Jeram Alas club of Aceh took the title with a combined score of 985, although it was beaten by the Langkat White Water Rafting Federation team of South Sumatra in the head-to-head race on Sunday.

Jeram Alas finished on top of the final standings, thanks to its double victory in the slalom and down-the-river events.

The South Sumatran team was second overall, followed by the Suara Alas club, also from Aceh.