Abbot retains white water rafting title

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.