Miniature canoes head into knockouts

THE Baruni Miniature Canoe Racing Association completed its final regular race yesterday and would host its knockout races today before tomorrow’s grand final.
Association patron and coordinator Ishmael Boro told The National yesterday that the competition started last month with more than 50 canoes taking part.
He said the competition was an annual event which was usually held in June but was delayed due to Covid-19.
“This is not the big canoe racing were people paddle,” Boro said.
“Our competition is an unknown sport but it’s kind of traditional because no one paddles these miniature canoes.
“These are tiny canoes that we put little sails on them and take them out to the sea before releasing them back to the shore.
“Our forefathers in the Motu-Koitabu area introduced it in the 1960s for fun and we still do it today as a sport.
“So for this season, more than 50 canoes took part but only 32 registered and paid their K20 fee and K5 for insurance.
“We will be hosting our knockouts tomorrow (today) before Friday’s grand final.
“Only the top-10 canoes will take part in the knockouts.”