The 44th annual Gregory River Canoe Race is only three weeks away.
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Early bird registration is available until Thursday March 14 when prices go back to normal.
The canoe racing event has two distances, an 18km recreational race and the marathon 40km race.
Both races are open to all types of plastic kayaks through to the serious racing K1 racers.
You can enter the race as a team or as an individual.
Organiser Alison Whitehead said marathon participants who register on or before the Thursday March 14 will ensure they receive the correct event t-shirt size.
Marathon participants who register on or before the Thursday March 14 will ensure they receive the correct event t-shirt size.
- Alison Whitehead
"We cannot guarantee the correct t-shirt size after this date due to freight transport," Whitehead said.
Recreational short course participants will receive an event cap.
While early bird registration closes this week online registrations will close on the 28 April at 4.00pm.
"You will still be able to register for the event on Saturday 4 May at Gregory Racecourse at the North West Canoe Club registration table between 11.00am and 1.00pm only.
"But you are not able to register for the event on Sunday, the day of the event," she said.
The canoe race is well supervised with four checkpoints along the way, SES boats, a helicopter in the air above keeping an eye on things, plus a sweep boat trailing behind to guide the slower craft.
Total prize money is $7,400.
Last year saw a spike in the number of competitors and onlookers, with 153 competitors in 80 crafts, even a stand-up paddle boarder competed.
The tiny town of the Gregory comes alive over that weekend as hundreds travel from nearby towns and tourists from as far away as New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory come to take part in the canoe race and the annual horse racing meet.
The Gregory Downs Jockey Club host the horse races called The Saddles and Paddles Race Meet.
The six-card race meet, the fashion of the fields and children’s wooden pony races are highlights to the weekend of water sport.
Gregory River Canoe Race is held on Sunday May 5.
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