The Pacu Jalur Rayon IV cultural festival, held at Tepian Datuk Bandaro, Pasar Gunung, Gunung Toar District, Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regency, Riau, successfully reached its peak on Sunday (26/7/2026). The thunderous cheers of hundreds of thousands of spectators packed the banks of the Batang Kuantan River to witness the fierce competition among the region's best rowing athletes.
In a dramatic final match, the Keramat Jubah Merah boat from Muaro Sentajo Village, Sentajo Raya District, once again proved its prowess. This favorite boat successfully clinched the first-place title for the third time in the Rayon IV competition after showing consistent performance since the preliminary rounds.
The victory was achieved after a tight three-way tie-breaker drama. Keramat Jubah Merah initially defeated the Rajo Mudo boat before finally securing the championship title by overcoming fierce resistance from the Putri Anggun Sibiran Tulang boat in the deciding match.
Meanwhile, second place was secured by the Putri Anggun Sibiran Tulang boat from Banjar Padang, Kuantan Mudik District. The Rajo Mudo boat from Pulau Deras Village, Pangean District, had to settle for third place after a hard-fought battle on the Batang Kuantan waters.
The competition for the middle positions was no less exciting. The Linta Jalang boat from Petapahan managed to secure fourth place after outperforming Kalojengking Tigo Jumbalang from Sungai Manau, which took fifth place. Meanwhile, the sixth to tenth positions were determined through a lottery mechanism by the organizing committee.
This year's Pacu Jalur event is not just a traditional sports competition, but also an important instrument in strengthening relations between regions, driving the local economy, and preserving the ancestral cultural heritage of the Kuansing community.
