Malabar River Festival concludes; New Zealand's Ryan O'Connor and Rata Lowell-Smith crowned Rapid Raja and Rapid Rani

Kozhikode: The 11th edition of the Malabar River Festival (MRF), one of the biggest white-water kayaking festivals of Asia, has come to an end in Pulikkayam in Kodenchery here on Sunday after three days of breathtaking events. Kayakers from New Zealand, Ryan O' Connor and Rata Lowell-Smith, bagged the Rapid Raja and Rapid Rani titles respectively. 

Kayakers Kilian Ivelic of Chile and Arjun Singh Rawat from Uttarakhand won the second and third prizes, respectively, in the men's category. Meanwhile, New Zealand Kayakers Mili Chamberlain and Dayla Ward won second and third prizes in the women's category. Arjun Singh Rawat bagged the Indian Best Paddlers prize.

O'Connor praised the climate, food and the hearty approach of the people of Kerala.

The final winners were selected from the Down River Race (Super Finals). A total of 16 men and eight women qualified for the finals with top ranks from Saturday's Professional Extreme slalom competitions.

P A Mohammed Riyas, state minister for tourism, announced the winners at the closing ceremony held at Elanthu Kadavu, Thiruvambady grama panchayat. Speaking at the event, he said, "Malabar River Festival has become one of the prime venues for white-water kayaking in the world. The state is developing new trends in tourism, which can be followed internationally".

Sunday's Super final Down River competitions were planned to be conducted in the Iruvazhinji river in Pulloorampara. However, the organisers had to change the location to Pulikkayam in Chalippuzha due to the high water level. 

Under the leadership of the Kerala Tourism Department, Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society and the District Tourism Promotion Council, the MRF was conducted by district authorities with the technical support of the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association.