Tairāwhiti paddlers enjoyed a golden day at the Waka Ama New Zealand national sprint championships on Lake Karapiro yesterday.
The J16 women’s crew Puhi Kaiariki, of Self Storage Gisborne Horouta Waka Hoe Club, won the W6 1000-metre final (with three turns) in 5 minutes 32.72 seconds, 0.14 of a second ahead of the runners-up from Nga Hoe Horo Outrigger Canoe Club. Puna Ariki, from Mareikura Canoe Club, were sixth in 6:11.97, and Puhi Kaimoana (Horouta) were seventh.
A combined crew named Puhi Kaiariki won the J16 women’s W12 500m final by over four seconds, in 2:06.71. Mareikura crew Puna Ariki were fourth, in 2:14.64. YMP Waka Ama crew Rukupo won the J16 men’s W6 1000m (with three turns), after an Akarana Waka Ama team were disqualified. Rukupo finished in 5:21.73, nearly five seconds ahead of the runners-up from Nga Hoe Horo. Horouta crew Whetumatarau Maidens were fourth in the intermediate women’s W6 500m with a turn, in 3:09.31, less than a second off the podium. YMP Waka Ama crew Hinehakirirangi were sixth, in 3:10.68, while Hinepukohurangi (Horouta) were eighth in a race where first and last were separated by less than 11 seconds.
In the intermediate men’s W6 500m with a turn, Horouta crew 6 Mullets were fourth, in 2:57.52, less than a second outside the medals.
YMP Te Arai Horouta 6 Mullets, of Te Uranga o Te Ra, were third in the intermediate men’s W12 500m final, in 2:17.82. The winners finished 0.21 of a second ahead, and the runners-up were 0.01 of a second faster than the Tairāwhiti crew. The Mareikura J16 men’s crew Nuku were fourth in the W12 500m final, in a time of 2:02.91. In the intermediate women’s W12 500m final, Horouta crew Whetumatarau were fourth, in 2:36.05, and Mareikura Hinewai YMP Hinehakirirangi were sixth, in 2.40.62.
