Gold to YMP, Mareikura crews

Seven Mapu broke a 31-year-old record for the 200 metres. Mapu ran the distance in 23.35s beating Scott Baistow's 1988 time of 23.8s.

GISBORNE clubs opened their medal accounts at the waka ama sprint nationals on Lake Karapiro this morning.

YMP Waka Ama’s Te Pahou crew won gold in a hotly contested midget boys’ W6 250 metres championship final.

They posted 1 minute 24.20 seconds, winning by just over a second, with Horouta Chaos third in 1.27.46.

Mareikura Wacky Waka crew followed that with victory in the midget girls’ W6 250 in a time of 1.29.55 — 1.34 clear of a Toa Waka Ama crew

Horouta’s Hinetiakitai were third in 1.31.76, with YMP’s Pipiwhakao fourth in 1.32.79.

All the Gisborne medal-winning crews were involved in further championship finals today.

It was all about the midgets (under-10) paddlers yesterday as the 30th anniversary nationals got under way.

Today featured nearly 2000 midget, intermediate (11-13yrs) and junior 16yrs crews involved in 51 races.

There are more intermediate and juniors races tomorrow and Thursday is completely dedicated to the W1 races, including the premier men’s and women’s divisions.

The waka ama nationals were officially opened yesterday with a crowd of around 1300 people joining for a powhiri at the western shore of Lake Karapiro in the Don Rowlands Centre.

Karakia were offered, thanks were given and wero (challenges) were laid in preparation for a week of high intensity competition.

Yesterday featured over 640 midget paddlers.

People throughout the Waipa district — especially Cambridge — have given the paddlers and their entourages a warm welcome, with banners up in the main street and welcome messages at shop fronts.,Rugby league 20

Surf lifesaving 21

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