By Hananeel Jackson
Brass Local Government Area on Tuesday sent a clear statement of intent after winning two gold, one silver in canoeing on day two of the ongoing Bayelsa State Sports Festival tagged Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games.
The canoeing event which kicked off at the Ox-bow lake pavilion witnessed five performances from athletes with Brass LGA dominating proceedings from 1000 metres mixed doubles, 500 meters men’s doubles and 500 metres women’s.
Brass LGA displayed their aquatic prowess clinching gold in the 1000 metres mixed doubles with a time of 2:05:31 split, Yenagoa LGA came second with 2:06:76 split as Kolokuma/Opokuma managed to settle for 3rd place while Ogbia LGA were found languishing in the race.
In the 500 metres men’s doubles, Brass LGA came out with a record of 2:25:75 split, closely followed by Yenagoa LGA with 2:26:10 split while Kolokuma/Opokuma came third.
Ekeremor LGA in the 500 metres women’s doubles ended Brass LGA dominance, outperforming Brass LGA to win the gold as the Seasiders settled for silver, Kolga went home with bronze.
Canoeing event will continue tomorrow at the Ox-bow lake pavilion in two – day of canoeing events and day three of Bayelsa State Sports Festival.
In an interview Brass LGA, canoeing captain, Christopher Innocent, said their dominance was as a result of the aquatic lifestyle, stressing that Bayelsa State Sports Festival has brought out what they were unable to showcase over the years.
He explained that the water wave at the Ox-bow lake was nowhere close to what they see in the Atlantic ocean in Brass during their training, stating that they are used to big waves in the ocean.
He thanked the Bayelsa State government and Access Bank for giving Bayelsa youths the platform to showcase their talents, describing sports festival as laudable.
Elsewhere, Team Sagbama beat Ekeremor LGA in judo to win gold at the Samson Siasia Stadium, while in football Southern Ijaw men’s football team piped Ogbia LGA 2-1 as Brass LGA women’s pummeled Sagbama 4-0 at the Biogbolo Secondary School pitch.
Hostility from Bayelsa State Sports Festival tagged Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games would continue tomorrow in the five centers having witnessed two days of fanfare in all the sports.
