By Ishmael Zay-Bangura
Freetown, 28th April 2026- What was meant to be a grand celebration of Sierra Leone’s coastal sporting spirit turned into a quiet but fiercely contested battle on the waters of Lumley-Aberdeen beach on April 27. The National Canoe Championships, initially slated to feature 16 communities, saw only seven show up to race. But those who came delivered a spectacular performance, with Bonthe emerging as the overall champion.
The missing nine communities left noticeable gaps along the packed shoreline, yet the energy from the seven competing teams—Bonthe, Tassor, Black Johnson, Bureh, Number 2, One Pole, and Mammah Beach was anything but diminished. Athletes paddled through multiple race categories: singles, mixed doubles, and the crowd-favourite team relay of 500 meters.
From the first heat, Bonthe set a blistering pace. Their synchronized strokes cut through the Atlantic swells with a precision that silenced early skeptics. Tassor and Bureh pushed hard, especially in the mixed doubles, where the lead changed three times in the final 200 meters. But Bonthe’s anchor crew held their nerve, crossing the finish line with a two-boat-length advantage in the decisive relay.
“Fewer teams meant no room for mistakes,” said Abdul Kamara Junior, the president of the Sierra Leone Canoe Federation. “We trained for 16 opponents, but we raced as if all of them were here. The water doesn’t care about numbers.”
Organizers expressed disappointment over the low turnout, citing last-minute logistical issues. However, they praised the seven communities for upholding the spirit of the championship. “This wasn’t a collapse, it was a core, says Kamara. Bonthe showed what focus looks like.
As the sun set over Lumley-Aberdeen, Bonthe’s paddlers hoisted their trophy above the surf. For one afternoon, quality conquered quantity, and a coastal underdog wrote its name into the national canoeing record books.
Black Johnson, Number 2, One Pole, and Mammah Beach each took home category medals but couldn’t dethrone Bonthe’s all-around dominance.
