Waka Ama: Record crowd for champs

Maketu Masters Maketu Hoe Waka power their way to win at the 2015 ActivePost National Waka Ama Sprint Championships. Photo / Supplied

Almost 3000 paddlers hit the waters of Lake Karapiro last week to compete at the 2015 ActivePost National Waka Ama Sprint Championships.

The annual regatta attracted 61 clubs from across the country, as well as guest paddlers from Australia and Papua New Guinea competing over distances of 250, 500 and 1500 metres. A record 11,000 spectators provided an electric atmosphere for the crews as they competed for national honours.

Best of the Western Bay crews were Maketu Masters Maketu Hoe Waka of Anne Kauika, Corina Patricia, Makarena Gage, Jennifer Emma Murray, Nicola Kay Kingi, Rebecca Ryder and Sarah Uhl, who took out the Master Women W6 1000 final with a time of 5m 22.85s.

Tupu King retained his open mens' W1 500m and 250m titles and Howard Hyland also retained his Master 70's Crown. Marama Elkington won the Open Womens' W1 title in the 500 and 250m events, while Maori Kava Tere from Waitakere Outrigger Canoe Club completed a remarkable regatta with four gold medals in the W1 U19 250m (Individual), W1 U19 500M (Individual), W12 U19 500m (Team) and U19 Men 500m (Team).

Clubs competed for national honours in one, six and twelve paddler teams in Junior U16, Junior U19, Open, Master and Senior Master age divisions.

Lara Collins, chief executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, said the championships showcased some of the greatest athleticism and sportsmanship she had seen in a long time.

"The adrenaline was pumping on and off the water as paddlers fought for those top placings. The weather was brilliant and the calm conditions made for some fantastic racing and fast times," she said. "The calibre of race entries seems to get better each year and we also saw a new generation of Waka Ama talent coming through."

Waka Ama racing has grown in popularity to become one of the fastest growing sports in New Zealand. Each year, more than 8000 paddlers from 89 clubs turn out at various events across the country to race Waka Ama in a show of brute strength, endurance, and team work.

Many thousands more attend to watch the racing as spectators.