ROWING, CANOE AND SAILING ASSOCIATION
ABOUT CANOEING ASSOCIATION BAYELSA STATE
The Canoe in Bayelsa State history mastery of the water, in Bayelsa as elsewhere, was as important a development of early man as mastery of the rest of his environment, for many rivers, the great creeks, and even the tumultuous ocean itself offered livelihood and means of communication. The first “boat” may be assumed to have been the trunks of fallen trees on which prehistoric man sat astride, either padding or (to use in Nigeria/Bayelsa term) “poling” with a branch. The next step was taken in Neolithic, or possibly Mesolithic, times when the ground and polished stone axes and adzes came into use. The tree truck could be shaped, giving it a tapered hull, while the soft part of the wood was hollowed (or dug) out a process which was completed by the use of fire. In this way, there came into being the ‘canoe’, as being in use up and down the coast and on the rivers and creeks and even today is still seen there in great numbers.
Creation of Bayelsa State Canoeing
In 2004, Bayelsa State Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Association was established under the coaching crew Inifa Gagbe the pioneer coach of the Canoeing Association and Coach Oyee Profit joined the Association.
OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
The Bayelsa State Canoeing Association promotes recreational and competitive paddle sports including both leisure and sprint canoe and kayak. We inspire paddling enthusiasts of all ages, both Able and Disability person’s and abilities to achieve their personal best within the association that values mutual support, enjoyment, accessibility and fair play. Bayelsa State Rowing, Canoe and Kayak Association (BSRCKA) is proud to welcome participants of all abilities, from beginners to future Olympians.
OUR OBJECTIVES
ACHIEVEMENTS
In 2014, Canoeing Sports was established by Head Coach Inifa Gagbe and later Coach Oyee Profit joined the head coach of the association and both of them have single – handedly grown and develop the association by training and bringing up champions in both Able and Para Canoeing more also the administrative region of Secretary Mrs. Erekposeigha Timitimi-Funwei the Association got the first 4 competition. Canoe and kayak boats with paddles and other canoeing accessories and still counting.
In 2018, National Sports Festival Abuja was Bayelsa State Rowing Canoe and Kayak Association (BSRCKA) 1st Festival the state represented in canoeing and the team placed overall 3rd position both in Able and Para Events.
In 2021, Admiral Porbeni National Boat Race Jabi Lake, Abuja in February, Bayelsa State team won and placed 4th position on medal table.
On 2022 April 9th – 15th , 1st Edition of National Para Games and Team Bayelsa Came overall 2nd in the maiden Edition.
In 2022, National Sports Festival Asaba Canoeing team went with more of our indigenous athletes with the likes of (1) Monovie Williams (2) Marcus Masters (3) Esther Beke (4) Tona Vera Agba-ere (5) Justice Tuoma (6) Sunday Onis with several others who won gold, silver and bronze medals respectively and placed overall 2nd on the medal table with Mrs. Erekposeigha Timitimi-Funwei as the Secretary, Mr. Peter Wodi as the Assistant Secretary Mr. Inifa Gagbe as the Head Coach and Mr. Oyee Profit as the Assistant Coach.
On 2023 March 1st Edition of Access State Sports Festival “Prosperity Unity Game” canoeing event was about 15 sports that participated and raw and budding talent were discovered from all L.G.A’s.
Medal table from the creation of canoeing events in Bayelsa State
| S/N | NAME | YEAR | EVENTS | MEDAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOODLUCK GBAMIRE | NSF 2018 | KAYAK MALE SINGLE/DOUBLE | 2 GOLD 7 SILVER 4 BRONZE |
| 2 | ABU GLORY SEMIDARA | NSF 2018 | KAYAK FEMALE DOUBLE MIX | 3 SILVER |
| 3 | SMART ADEOLA | NSF | KAYAK FEMALE | 3 SILVER |
| 4 | AYOMIDE | NSF 2018 | PARA EVENT | 2 SILVER |
| 5 | VICTOR | NSF 2018 | KAYAK MALE | 2 BRONZE |
| 6 | GOODLUCK | APBR 2021 | KAYAK MALE K1200M K1500M K2500M K2500M MIX DOUBLE | 4 GOLD 3 SILVER |
| 7 | ABU GLORY | APBR 2021 | KAYAK FEMALE | 3 GOLD 3 SILVER 2 BRONZE |
| 8 | AYOMIDE BELLO POWEI | 2022 APBR | CANOE FEMALE C1200 C1500 C2200 C2500 | 5 GOLD |
| 9 | PERE PAGHAMOTEI | 2022 APBR | CANOE MALE | 2 GOLD 1 SILVER 1 BRONZE |
| 10 | CELESTINE ETO | 2022 APBR | KAYAK MALE | 1 SILVER 1 BRONZE |
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS
| S/N | NAME | POSITION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MRS. EREKPOSEIGHA TIMITIMI-FUNWEI | SECRETARY |
| 2 | MR. PETER WODI | ASSIST. SEC |
| 3 | MR. INIFA GBAGBE | HEAD COACH |
| 4 | MR. OYEE PROFIT | ASSIST. COACH |
CHALLENGES
The Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Association lack training equipment and it is a very big problem when training, currently the association have only 2 canoeing and 2 kayak boats, paddles 2 canoeing and 2 kayak paddles, knee pad just 2, where as we have athletes more than 50 coming for training so it is very difficult for the coaches while training all the athletes because of lack of training equipment.
