Paddlers across Dublin city and county are bound for the south-east to compete in the first ever Canoeing Ireland Club Championships in April.

They will make up some 400 competitors from 19 clubs across the country who have already registered for the two-day white-knuckle contest in Kilkenny city, nearby Graiguenamanagh and Tramore in Waterford on 12-13 April.

The event is also set to be a major revenue spinner for both Kilkenny and Waterford, with hundreds of supporters, family members and friends expected to flock to the region for the inter-clubs competition.

The top club will be crowned based on its athletes’ cumulated performances across all eight disciplines, which include a canoe slalom and wildwater racing in Clashganny, sprint kayaking and freestyle kayaking in Kilkenny city, and kayak surfing in Tramore.

The venue for the ultimate challenge, the whitewater kayak race, will be confirmed closer to the event as weather will play a major role in finding the most testing waters.