By Joe Chapman

Inaugural champions District 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) by amassing 76 points won the third edition of the annual ExxonMobil Inter District Kayaking Championship last Saturday at Watooka Guest House in Linden.
In the process, they upended the defending champions District 9, (Upper Takatu /Upper Essequibo), who finished second with 64 points.
It was a day of excitement following the championship being declared open by Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

The Prime Minister said, “Let me thank Dr [Deon] Anderson [Proprietor of host group Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours] for conceptualising this whole competition. I want to thank the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism for supporting this activity, and the fact that this is the third year, it is now a calendar activity, and we look forward to coming to Linden for this kayaking competition.”
He also thanked the previous title sponsor SLB who has remained on board, as well as new title sponsors ExxonMobil.

Dr. Anderson in brief remarks said, “Welcome to our third annual ExxonMobil Inter District inter district kayaking competition. It is definitely an honour and a pleasure to see all of these faces ready to put forward the best and high level of competition here today. You have been doing quite well today over the previous years and I know we have quite some interesting competition ready for us today.”

To defeat District 9 who had dethroned them last year, District 10 grabbed five gold medals and three silver medals, failing to take the podium in all but one event.
District 9 accumulated 64 points with one gold medal, four silvers and two bronze medals in the process, edging out District 7 (Cuyuni Mazaruni) which won two gold, one silver and five bronze medals in the nine-district competition.
The championships saw nine events were staged.

District 1 (Barima Waini) took fourth spot with 45 points after winning one gold and one silver medal; District 2 (Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon) taking fifth place with 38 points with two bronze medals.
District 8 (Potaro Siparuni) finished in sixth position on 22 points ahead of District 5 (West Coast Berbice) next on 21 points, District 6 (New Amsterdam Canje) with 12 points and District 3 (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) on 11 points.