After a year long wait for a chance to repeat the Kronos feat, Kent Ridge Hall shocks all by winning 9 out of the 11 awards available for Halls and Residences Category at Rag and Flag Day, including the most prized and prestigious Chancellors’ Shield.

Bad weather had gotten everyone jittery for Rag Day. Firstly, the Rag preview was delayed. And it did not help that the float could not be shown during the preview later on, much to the disappointment of the alumni who came back specially for it. Secondly, it rained so badly the night before Rag Day that the timing of the parade had to be postponed by 2 hours. Lastly, dark clouds were looming ominously when Rag Day started. It was certainly not the best of starts for Rag Day, but fortunately, people’s prayers were answered and Kent Ridge Hall managed to present the float in all its perfection and glory under the shining bright sunlight. Most important of all, the float had exceeded all expectations and won most of the awards that were given out on Rag and Flag Day.

The float itself is a shoe house, representing the journey that the previous Kent Ridge Hall Rag teams had undergone, and keeping with the theme of Rag and Flag Day. It was a masterpiece with intricate cladding and amazing statics. Interestingly, Eusoff Hall had an almost similar design, but the Kent Ridge float won hands down with the sheer amount of detail that was put into the float by the Rag team.

But such glory and joy did not come without much hard work and cooperation among all Kent Ridgeans. Prizing ourselves as a family hall, support was given unanimously to the Rag Team. The most evident of this was the congregation that marched all the way from Hall to the Sports and Recreational Centre (SRC) in their distinctive blue FWOC t-shirts, yelling out coordinated cheers and attracting more than just a few stares along the way. Under normal circumstances such behaviour would seem a little odd, but the spirit shown in that short road march gave Kent Ridgeans a real moral boost and gave the other faculties and halls a run for their money for Rag and Flag Day. Surely the confidence that exuded from the mere bright blue t-shirts had given us a leg up in the competition.

But attracting envious stares from school is not the only way we had shown our support to the amazing Rag team. The presentation itself was a coordinated effort, a brainchild of dance choreographer Krissandi and Melissa Chan. Interestingly, many were left wondering why we had to cheer at certain parts of a song, even though it really seemed random. It turns out that the Hall Master Kuldip Singh threw a little surprise by popping out of the float with the JCRC president Mohammad Rizal at those random parts. The participation of Master Kuldip Singh was definitely the highlight of the float presentation and it probably shocked the judges and those around who knew him. Mostly, it showed that the float this year was really a combined effort of all Kent Ridgeans.

Of course, special mention has to be given to the Rag helpers, who had endured the cold chilly weather in the SRC for the night before, in order to keep the float safe and the practice smooth for the presentation.
Kent Ridge Hall had won all awards except the prize for the least cost float and the most original theme float for both Rag and Flag, earning us the most important award of all, the Chancellor’s Shield. Flag was the most impressive of all, sweeping everything including both best progress award in terms of percentage and absolute amount. Earning a total of almost over $136,000, it is a huge improvement from the already huge amount of $100,000 raised last year. Moreover, it constituted almost two-fifths of the $500,000 plus raised by the whole of NUS itself. This was done so despite many setbacks and bumps that the Hall occurred during Flag.

What was impressive was that Kent Ridgeans had sweated out and cheered out with all their hearts for the Hall. Kent Ridge Hall was so hyped up that even Biz-Ad was going “K, K, K, K, R…” along with the hall.

KR no.1… Indeed, Kent Ridge Hall dominated on Rag and Flag Day. Chingay, here we come!

Reported by Audrey Koh
KR Reporters

Relive the moment! Video of our rag performance:

More pictures: 

Important Dates:

• 27 July 2008: Check In (11am for local students, 12pm for international students)
• 28 July 2008: FWOC starts!

Camp fee: $25, to be paid upfront.

Packing list:

• at least 4 sets of clothing,
• swimwear,
• toiletries,
• towel,
• sport shoes,
• sandals,
• sun block,
• personal medication if any,
• other personal items.
• items for daily life when staying in hall (pillow, bolster, bed sheet, LAN cable, cleaning equipment, etc

How to get to KR?

Refer to the NUS Map here

Website

http://www.kentridge.nus.edu.sg/fwoc/