Ugandans give kayak stars a run for their money
Dec 20, 2006
IN the past, it was a case of international kayakers, coming, seeing and conquering the Nile. However, this was not the case at the recently-concluded Nile Freestyle Festival, where Uganda Kayakers, in “true spirit of the Nile,†gave their seasoned counterparts a run for their money.
By Alex Balimwikungu
IN the past, it was a case of international kayakers, coming, seeing and conquering the Nile. However, this was not the case at the recently-concluded Nile Freestyle Festival, where Uganda Kayakers, in “true spirit of the Nile,†gave their seasoned counterparts a run for their money.
Until he broke his kayak on the class five rapids at Itanda Falls on the second day, Geoffrey Kabirya was leading the pack in the 45km Extreme Endurance Race, where another Ugandan, Ibra Mugembe, emerged third.
Uganda Kayakers showed their prowess on the final day making a clean sweep of the Boda-boda Extreme Endurance Race that saw them kayak a 10km section with seven huge rapids, before completing the race on the 50cc motorcycles.
Kabirya, Henry Kitimeo and Mugembe kept the Ugandan flag high in a race that exposed former Ugandan champion Paulo Babi. One of Uganda’s female Kayakers, Prossy Mirembe, emerged second in this race.
There were 60 participants from 11 countries. Nile Breweries gave a sponsorship package of sh20m.
“With more sponsors on board, kayaking will only get bigger. The beauty of it is that local kayakers have come of age. They impress and are potential world-beaters. We can never thank Nile Breweries and SN Brussels enough,†organiser Jamie Simpson said at the prize-giving ceremony.
World number one kayaker Steve Fisher from South Africa warded off a stiff challenge to win the Nile Special Big Trick Competition. He got sh1m
Sam Ward from Wales was second and Tom Brown from Scotland came second in the 45km race. Adrian Kieran from Australia came third.
Rae Boratto from the US won the women’s category.
IN the past, it was a case of international kayakers, coming, seeing and conquering the Nile. However, this was not the case at the recently-concluded Nile Freestyle Festival, where Uganda Kayakers, in “true spirit of the Nile,†gave their seasoned counterparts a run for their money.
Until he broke his kayak on the class five rapids at Itanda Falls on the second day, Geoffrey Kabirya was leading the pack in the 45km Extreme Endurance Race, where another Ugandan, Ibra Mugembe, emerged third.
Uganda Kayakers showed their prowess on the final day making a clean sweep of the Boda-boda Extreme Endurance Race that saw them kayak a 10km section with seven huge rapids, before completing the race on the 50cc motorcycles.
Kabirya, Henry Kitimeo and Mugembe kept the Ugandan flag high in a race that exposed former Ugandan champion Paulo Babi. One of Uganda’s female Kayakers, Prossy Mirembe, emerged second in this race.
There were 60 participants from 11 countries. Nile Breweries gave a sponsorship package of sh20m.
“With more sponsors on board, kayaking will only get bigger. The beauty of it is that local kayakers have come of age. They impress and are potential world-beaters. We can never thank Nile Breweries and SN Brussels enough,†organiser Jamie Simpson said at the prize-giving ceremony.
World number one kayaker Steve Fisher from South Africa warded off a stiff challenge to win the Nile Special Big Trick Competition. He got sh1m
Sam Ward from Wales was second and Tom Brown from Scotland came second in the 45km race. Adrian Kieran from Australia came third.
Rae Boratto from the US won the women’s category.