Golden day for Aotearoa,Elite title haul at sprint world championships still sinking in

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A GOLDEN day for Gisborne paddlers at the world waka ama sprint championships in Australia has yet to sink in for Aotearoa elite women’s coach and crew member Kiwi Campbell.

“Maybe later in the week this will become reality,” a jubilant and relieved Campbell told The Gisborne Herald after Aotearoa crews collected six gold medals on the Lake Kawana waters on the Sunshine Coast.

The stars of the day were undoubtedly the elite women’s crew, who completed a stunning treble — winning the V6 500 and 1500m titles, and the V12 500 teamed with members of the elite junior squad coached by Gisborne’s Matahi Brightwell.

The elite junior women also did a golden treble in winning their V6 500 and 1000 finals.

All crews were heavy in numbers from Gisborne clubs Horouta Waka Hoe and Mareikura — underlining this region’s reputation as a paddling powerhouse.

The elite junior women started the golden procession with victory in the V6 500, finishing nearly 7 seconds clear of Tahiti.

12 seconds ahead of TahitiThey later added the 1000 title, crossing the line over 12secs ahead of Tahiti.

The Aotearoa elite women continued from where they left off in Sunday’s heats.

“We had confidence from the heat progressions the day before and we took it into our races today,” said Campbell. “We felt really strong throughout both racing days. We put in all the hard work (a 10-month trial and training campaign) and left everything out on the water today.”

The V6 500 final was always going to be tight but Aotearoa got home by just under 4secs from Tahiti.

“We knew Tahiti would be strong but we were confident in our strategy and ability to adapt to the changing conditions, and today the winds turned to a headwind which is a strength of ours.”

They again headed off Tahiti — by 7½ secs — in the 1500.

Comprehensive win to AotearoaJoining forces with their juniors, Aotearoa finished the day with a comprehensive win in the V12 500, leaving the field in their wake for a 9½-second win.

Campbell praised her crew for representing New Zealand “with such mana”.

Elite crew member Sieda Tureia, of the Horouta club, said it was an overwhelming feeling.

“I am so proud to have been a part of such a strong and determined group of ladies — both highly experienced paddlers and young talented paddlers.

“I take my hat off to the sacrifices made by ourselves and those that support us — our whanau, partners and children who motivated us to be strong women and achieve elite world champion status.”

She also hailed the vital contribution of Campbell — “an exceptional coach, teammate and friend”.

Aotearoa also picked up gold in the elite men’s V6 500.

The world club champs started today and involve a large number of Gisborne paddlers over various age groups.

More gold is a certainty.