Canoeing enthusiasts and members of the public did not let harsh winds and the rough sea prevent them from participating in the Canoe/Kayak Open day organised by the MCF on the 1 May.

The day kicked off with what turned into a mini-league of canoe polo which allowed the sport and its players to be put in a showcase like never before. More experienced players joined in the fun and offered instruction to beginners, showing them the ropes and enabling them to play a few good games. Canoe Polo consists of 2 teams with 5 members per team battle it out for to score in their opponent's goal while moving about on short canoes. The game is often described as a combination of water polo, basketball and kayaking. The tactics and playing of the game are not unlike 5-a-side football or water polo but with the added complexity of maneuvering the boats, which can also be used to shield the ball.

Due to the uninviting sea, tours were cancelled and Slalom was the key event of the afternoon. This discipline requires an extremely good technique so as to manoeuvre through the hanging gates in the course as fast as possible. If the competitor's boat, paddle or body touches either pole of the gate, a time penalty of two seconds is added. If the competitor misses a gate completely, displaces it by more than 45 degrees, goes through the gate upside-down, or goes through it in the wrong direction, a 50 second penalty is given. Luckily for participants, these penalties were not enforced on the 1st of May as they were allowed to paddle through the gates at their leisure.

The MCF would like to thank all those who made the event possible. Special thanks go to the Sliema Waterpolo Pitch, through the kind support of President Michael Gatt.

For future events or further information on canoeing and kayaking in Malta, kindly visit www.maltacanoefederation.org