ONLINE registrations for this year's Gregory River Canoe Marathon rolled in thick and fast last week despite the loss of the event's traditional May Day long weekend.
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North West Canoe Club president Alison Whitehead said the number of competitors who committed to the event early through online registrations had almost doubled in its second year.
``Last year was a trial and we had about 50 per cent of our competitors register online, which was about 50-odd people,'' she said.
``This year we've had 90 register online, and we have a heap of Spinifex school kids coming up as well.''
Whitehead said the loss of the public holiday didn't hamper the weekend - instead it linked the North West paddling event with others in North Queensland.
She said there was a silver lining in organisers scheduling Townsville's Groove in the Moo Festival on the same weekend, as the festival would draw away the party animals and unruly spectators who had caused problems in previous years.
``Last year, although spectator numbers were down, we were happy with the spectators that were there,'' she said.
``It was a really family-oriented weekend.''
This year's race is on Sunday, May 4. There are a number of categories including the Canadian Challenge, K1 open, TK2 open, TK2 mixed and a short course, as well as the community's annual race day on the Saturday.
Special guest Rachel Lovell, who competed at the 2012 London Olympics, will take on the Outback river challenge with her husband and trainer Geoff Lovell.
Anyone who missed the online registrations can sign up in person at the Gregory on Saturday, May 3, before the racing program.