Belmopan, Belize 9 March (Belizean.com) The Cave's Branch Outpost Tourism Resort Zip Riders team won the 13th running of the La Ruta Maya Belize River Chalenge canoe race which started on March 5th from San Ignacio Town in western Belize and ended at Belize City on Monday March 8th. The race which is held in stages covers a grueling 175 miles. Second place went to the Belize Bank Team and third place was won by the team from Citrus Products of Belize Ltd. – the leading producer of Belize orange juice and other fruit juice products. Eighty six teams – including 13 from abroad took part in this year's race.

The four day La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is a grueling paddle down the 175 miles of the Belize Old River which starts as at the Macal River in San Ignacio, to the BelCan bridge in downtown Belize City. There are three night stops as the race progresses: Banana Bank Lodge at Belmopan on the first night, Russel's Place in Bermudian Landing on the second night, and at Old River Tavern in Burrel Boom on the third night.

The first canoes enter Belize City to cheering crowds at about 10:00 am on the last day, coinciding with the Baron Bliss Day Celebrations in honor of Belize's great benefactor Henry Victor Edward Bliss, who left a significant portion of his estate to the people of Belize. This Baron Bliss day which is on March 9th, fell on a Tuesday, so the holiday was observed on Monday March 8th to make a for a long holiday weekend. Photos Courtesy Leslie Kearns from Affordable Web Design.