Keleone canoe racing to unfurl sails tomorrow

By JACK AMI
THE 12th Keleone Canoe Racing Syndicate Sir Puka Temu Cup will be staged at Pelagai village, Aroma Coast, Central, tomorrow.
This is the third consecutive year that local MP and Public Service Minister Sir Puka, pictured, assisted the competition, with the allocation of K50,000.
The Sir Puka Temu Cup was launched yesterday in Port Moresby in the absence of the Sir Puka, who was attending Parliament.
Keleone Canoe Racing Syndicate chairman Ian Gapi said the annual event was only for the people of Abau district, from Aroma Coast to Amazon Bay, to compete.
Gapi said major prizes for the champion was K2000 and 20 consolation awards would also be given.
He said two-time champions, Marokele (2015, 2016), would be out to defend the crown from 50 other competitors on the Aroma Coast.
Gapi said April 17 will see the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill Cup, which has been allocated K100,000 since 2016.
The chairman said that O’Neill would be present to launch the race.
This will be followed by the Governor Kila Haoda Cup, which has a sponsorship package of K50,000.
“These two events are open to Central and Motu-Koitabu villages,” Gapi said.
“We are proud that it has grown bigger and better from its humble beginnings in 2006, with the supported of the corporate sector.