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By Col. Bobby Miller

Special to the Daily News

Local paddlers just competed in Battle on the Bayou, an American Canoe Association affiliated race, 8.5 miles out and back, held on the brackish waters of Old Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs, Miss.

The event took place last Saturday.

Only human propelled crafts were allowed to enter.

Boats or watercraft in the race involved 17 classes, which included canoes and kayaks and surfboards of different lengths and widths.

The uniqueness of the race is that is a mass start of all classes entered and it had 148 entries.

Bogalusa Venture Crew 313, Boy Scouts of America, had six canoes entered, all of which finished in the top six. The first three won medals in the tandem canoe class for very credible performances by the local paddlers.

First place was won by Rex Perrette and Kayden Lewis with a time of 1 hour, 29 minutes and 44 seconds.

Second place was Josh Gulczynski and Zachary Kirkland at 1:36.26.

Third place was Payton Lewis and Isaiah Brown at 1:52.04, followed in order by Nathan Keen and Bryson Baughman at 2:00.12, Jennings Scott and Layke Mitchell at 2:19.18 and Kenny Ikerd and Owen Mitchell at 2:36.58.

Hopefully there will be more canoe races before the annual Istrouma Area Council Bogue Chitto Race, which is a 110-mile marathon race, scheduled for July 22-24.

For more information concerning youth competitive canoeing, call Col. Bobby Miller at 985-732-9341 (males wanted to canoe race) or Stephanie Seals at 985-516-2445 (females).