Golden double-hull champs

Job well done...Horouta Waka Hoe’s Kaiarahi Toa crew members celebrate after winning the Premier women’s W12 500 metres final at the waka ama sprint nationals on Lake Karāpiro yesterday. The champs finish today.Picture by Garrick Cameron

Horouta’s superstar crew Kaiarahi Toa lived up to their favouritism on the penultimate day of the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals on Lake Karāpiro yesterday.

And you can bet your house there will be more gold for them in huge final day of action today at the week-long regatta.

Kaiarahi Toa added to their phenomenal record over the years with victory in the Premier women’s W12 500m — rocketing their way to the finish line in just over 2 minutes for a nearly three-second victory.

Considering the crew featured the Premier women’s W1 500 winner (Akayshia Williams) and masters women’s champion (Kiwi Campbell), alongside various age group winners over the years, it was no surprise.

Less than half-an-hour later, the Kaiarahi Toa name was top of the podium again in the masters women W12 500 final in even more commanding fashion than their Premier counterparts. The KT masters women clocked 2:08.96 — just shy of 6secs ahead of the second-placed crew.

Self Storage Horouta Waka Hoe’s medals for the day started with the Turanga FM Paikea Masters crew who were third in the masters men’s W12 500.

The Waihora Tama Ki Te Rangi crew narrowly missed a medal in the junior 19 men’s final, finishing fourth.

Horouta paddlers were involved in the masters men’s and women’s 70 exhibition finals.

The Fluffy Papas — a combination of the Hoe Aroha and Horouta clubs — won the men’s final while a Horouta/Waitakaere combo called Wild Tuahine won the women’s final.

Horouta also picked up a couple of medals on Thursday. Hinewaiariki were second in the golden masters women’s W12 500 final.

Horouta Uehha Breevas were second  in the senior masters men W12 500.

The coffers are certain to be added to today as the champs culminate with the blue ribbon W6 500 finals and the W1 250 dash in J19 and Premier men’s and women’s divisions.

Horouta’s W1 champions Akayshia Williams, Kiwi Campbell, husband Bruce Campbell and Hine Brooking, and silver medallists Maia Campbell and Marnie Toloa are in the dash races.