The 14th Annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge is now history and Team Ziprider which consisted of Jerry Rhaburn, Efrain and Felix Crux paddled their canoe, which is sponsored by Discovery Expeditions, into the sports annals of the country when it repeated as overall champions of the 14th annual Ruta Maya River Challenge, edging out their arch rivals the Belize Bank team by one second.

Team Belize Bank which is made up of Ervin, Amado and Daniel paddled their canoe across the finishline at the Bel Can Bridge in Belize City on Monday, March 7, two seconds before Ziprider, but the times for the 4 stages of the race were tabulated, and Team Ziprider had clocked 18:00:04 and much to their disappointment, Belize Bank had clocked 18:00:05.

The Ziprider crew took home the $2,000 grand prize and the Kinich Ahau Jade Head trophy, and the Belize bank had to be content with the second place trophy and the many station prizes they had won along the way. Team Ziprider had won the first station prize at the wooden bridge between San Ignacio and Santa Elena, and then the Belize Bank crew took the next two $100 station prizes at Branch Mouth and the Baking Pot ferry. Team Ziprider swept the next two $100 station prizes at Iguana Creek and Young Bank Ferry and reached the finish of Stage 1 at Banana Bank five seconds before the Belize Bank crew.

Ziprider won a $100 prize as they zipped past the Banana Bank Lodge first, but Belize Bank crew took the $200 prize at More Tomorrow, a $200 prize at Big Falls, a $100 prize at Willows Bank and the $150 prize as winners of Stage 2 at Double Head Cabbage three seconds before Ziprider.

On day three, Team Belize Bank won a $150 prize at the ferry landing, and then Ziprider took the $100 prize at Isabella Bank. Team Belize Bank won the next two $100 prizes at Flowers Bank and the Belize Water Services treatment plant, but this time Team NICH: Oscar Cordon, Jimmy Valdez and Armin Lopez proved themselves a force to be reckoned with as they won Stage 3 and a $150 prize at Burrell Boom,
one second before Belize Bank.

On day 4, Team NICH canoe finished 3rd at the Bel Can Bridge and were 3rd overall clocking 18:07:02. Former La Ruta Maya champions (2009), Team Citrus Products of Belize Limited; Chris Guydis, Leon Gillett and Sheldon Seguro, finished 4th overall clocking 18:07:02 as they
reached the Bel Can 5th.

In the female division,  the Police “Peacemakers” team which consisted of Jane Usher, Christine Jacobs and Delia Hyde won the Female division to claim a $200 1st prize and a trophy, clocking 21:25:43 as they finished 36th. Team “No Watch Me” which consisted of Megan Aspinall, Bobby Dee Usher and Kimberly Cain took 2nd place in the female division clocking 24:58:34. Team Pic N’ Mix: Stacey Smithson, Rhiannon Creak and Helen Golea of BATSUB clocked 25:20:40 as they took 3rd place in the female division, finishing 60th overall. They were also the first BATSUB team to ever win a prize in the Ruta Maya since it began. In the Mixed Division it was Team Koop Sheet Metal which consisted  of Andreas Cobb, and Eric Cano and Francisca Phaender  clocked 18:26; 43 as they won the mixed division claiming a $200 prize and a trophy and finished 5th overall.

Team Lost and Found Janice Leslie and Justin and Eldon Sanchez, sponsored by Duke Marine, clocked 19:10:25 to finish 10th overall and take 2nd place in the Mixed Division.  The Coast Guard Cutter finished 13th overall but won 3rd place in the Mixed Division.

In the Intramural Competition it was St. Ignatius High School which consisted of Sergio Lopez, Byron Cruz and Alfred Lopez, clocked 19:26:23 as they won 1st place in this category to claim a $200 prize and a trophy, finishing 12th overall. The University of Belize “Jaguars” team clocked 19:49:58 as they took 2nd place in the intramural division, finishing 16th overall. Team Mopan/Border Management which consisted of Darry, Jeffery and Juan Carillo of team won 3rd place in the Intramural division finishing 21st overall.

The Police Crime fighters Jerome Ingram, Neri Waight and Evelio Flores won the pleasure division, finishing 20th. Team Print Belize Jesus Cruz, Rudolph Gentle and Javier took 2nd place in Pleasure division. They finished Stage 4 ahead of the Crime fighters, but the police had the better overall time. Team Westrac which consisted of Jerry Cante, Elmer and Homer Cruz crossed the finish line in 15th  position, but took 3rd place in the Pleasure division. What a thing! Team “Watt a ting”: Michael and Johnny “Watt” Searle and Jim Scott out paddled their arch-rivals “Grumpy old’ Men” to win the Masters division clocking 20:57:44 to finish 27th overall. Team Cottonmouth was 2nd among the Masters, finishing 35th overall.

Team Grumpy Old Men: Dennis Johnson, Joe Fuzzy and Jerry Wilkins were the 3rdMasters, finishing 38th overall.

Team Belize Postal Services: Keron Cabb, Efrain Quemell and Braulio Zetina won the Dory division, finishing 18th overall.

The Hell raisers team won the Family division finishing almost dead last, and the Triple S team won the perseverance award.

We say congratulations to the winners and the participants of the 14th Annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge.