MORE than 600 paddlers are expected to participate in the Mayor's Cup Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race in Cagayan de Oro on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Oro-TIPC (Trade Investments Promotions Center) chief John Asuncion, the chairman of the Chinese New Year Festival Committee and the founder of the Dragon Boat Kagayan Inc., said a total of 636 paddlers or 17 teams from all over the country will compete in the said dragon boat race, which is part of the city's lined-up activities for this year's Chinese New Year Festival.

Among the 17 teams who will be competing in the race are: Kampilan Dragon Boat, Gladiators Davao, Ricspeed, Samal Dragons, and Amihan from Davao; RMMC Bluefins Dragon Boat Team from General Santos; Universidad de Zamboanga, Wildcats Paddlers Dragon Boat Team from Zamboanga; Speed Devilz and Philippine Army Dragon Warriors from Manila; San Jose Banatti and United Dragonhearts from Negros; Dumaguete Yellowfins from Dumaguete; Dalipuga Dragons from Iligan; Brgy Carmen Dragon Boat Team, CGY Oro Dragons, and BraveDogs from Cagayan de Oro; and Hydra Riders, which is composed of paddlers from Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

According to Asuncion, the Mayor's Cup Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race consists of five categories, namely the Standard Open 300M, Standard Mixed 300M 24 and Under, Standard Mixed 300M Premier, Standard Mixed 300M Masters, and Standard Mixed Novelty Race.

Winners from each category will receive cash prizes, trophies, and medals. Champion teams will get P50,000 in cash prize, P30,000 for first runners-up, P20,000 for second runners-up, and P10,000 for third runners-up.

The Mayor's Cup Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race will be held at Isla de Oro from January 21 to 22 at 7 a.m.