Andre Simon emerged the male winner and Shelly Chadburn the female winner in the first round of the National Canoe Championships at Runaway Bay on Sunday.
The Championship, put on by the Antigua and Barbuda Canoe Racing Association (ABCRA) is the first of its kind in the island. Simon came in at a time of 17 minutes and 20 seconds after the planned male’s 10k race was forcibly reduced following a rain induced delay. Shelly Chadburn came in at a time of 4 minutes and 49 seconds after the female’s 5k race also had to be shortened.
The length of the rearranged route for the male race is yet to be determined but it stretched the length of Runaway Bay and participants made a complete circuit with the race ending back at the starting point. The female race ran to a closer point, but also involved a circuit that brought participants back to the starting point.
Simon, who is also the Acting President of ABCRA, was followed by Dolphins swimmer Kareem Valentine who came in at a time of 17 minutes and 45 seconds. Valentine, who represented Antigua for swimming at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was followed by ABCRA’s Acting Vice President, Darnel Lloyd who came in at a time of 17 minutes at 58 seconds. Third placed Lloyd was then followed by the following athletes in the respective times: Rory Butler in 18:02, Orel Jeffrey in 19:05, Devon Norris in 20:21, Curvel George in 20:24, Jansen Walker in 21:24, Kirk Anderson in 23:01, Noel Roberts in 24:50 and Dwayne Simon in 26:40.
Simone Browne took second place for the females in a time of 5:41 followed by Jackie in a time of 5:52. Third placed Jackie was then followed by: Jessica Nurse in 6:06, Tamiko Butler in 6:16 and Tonisha Nurse in 6:21.
The event was sponsored by: Antigua Nature Tours, Trans Caribbean Marketing, Premier Beverages, Antigua Yacht Club, Bargain Centre, Frank B Armstrong, Reef Gardens, National Fitness Centre, Ms Beryl Gore and Sandpiper Hotel.
Simon said “We just really want to thank Rabi from Antigua Nature Tours for lending us the kayaks for the event, not just him but all our sponsors, it's great to see businesspeople going out of their way to see sports like ours succeed”.
The Acting President added “It’s a shame the weather wasn’t on our side, as it meant that we didn’t pull the crowds we expected, but the event was still a huge success and we’re grateful for all the businesses and sponsors that continue to show their willingness to grow with us despite all the little hiccups on the way”.
