Gisborne waka ama crew Kaiarahi Toa continues to command respect

Horouta premier women's team Kaiarahi Toa won the W6 double at the waka ama sprint nationals at Lake Karapiro last week. They won the 1500 metres (with five turns) and the 500m straight sprint on Saturday, the last day of competition. Pictured on the podium are (from left) Gaibreill Wainohu (coach and paddler), Briar McLeely, Cheidan Moetara, Taylynn Morete, Keri Ngatoro and Akayshia Williams. Photo / Waka Ama NZ

Kaiarahi Toa continues to be a team name that commands respect in waka ama circles.

The Horouta Waka Hoe premier women’s team developed by elite competitor and coach the late Kiwi Campbell into a paddling powerhouse changed over the years as promising young paddlers grew to maturity.

Gaibreill Wainohu was 13 when Campbell drafted her into the Kaiarahi Toa premier women’s squad.

At last year’s waka ama sprint champs at Lake Karapiro, Wainohu won the Under-23 women’s W1 500 metres and this year she was coach and crew member of the club’s top women’s team.

For good measure, she coached the U19 women’s team, Manawahine. Both Kaiarahi Toa and Manawahine won the turns-race/straight-sprint double in their division.

Wainohu is also the New Zealand J19 women’s coach.

Horouta Waka Hoe Club chairman Walton Walker said the Kaiarahi Toa double in the premier women’s division, and the W12 team’s third-place earning qualification for the Singapore world sprint champs in Singapore, were among the highlights for the club.

“It’s a new-look team coached by Gabby Wainohu, with [eight-time W1 women’s NZ champion] Akayshia Williams steering,” Walker said.

Through the heats and finals of the W6 events, they took the approach that if another team wanted it, they’d have to beat them (Kaiarahi Toa).

“They were focused and they were tough – a great testament to Gabby’s coaching, selection and preparation,” Walker said.

“The J19 women and J19 men similarly showed great courage and tenacity in their events.”