A CITY centre may be the last place you would imagine a canoe slalom to be held, but last weekend saw just that happen in Winchester.

Water sports fanatics donned their wetsuits on Saturday, May 17, for the event organised by Winchester and District Canoe Club.

It saw around 40 people compete on the River Itchen behind the Winchester School of Art buildings, on Park Avenue, in the entry level division four race.

Ian Law, one of the organisers, said: “It’s open to anyone, we have got people here from London, and it’s open nationwide. The water here is quite easy and for a lot of competitors this might be their first race.”