Golden finish to Worlds

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

GISBORNE paddlers ended the elite and club sprint world championships as they started it, with golden performances in Australia on Sunday.

The Horouta junior 16 and junior 19 women’s crews continued their dominance of those age groups with victories in V6 500 metres finals on Lake Kawana.

Horouta’s Puhi Kaiariki crew won the junior 16 final, with Mareikura’s Hinekura crew just over half a second behind.

The Puhi Kaiariki crew were Gaibreill Wainohu, Jessica Terekia, Kelsey Teneti, Manutangirua Potaka, Teoarangi Kemp and Tereana Ihakara.

Hinekura were Keri Ngatoro, Kian Glass-Donaldson, Maia Niwa-Apelu, Manea Swann, Rangi-Riana Williams and Tia Akurangi.

New Zealand crews filled the top six placings in this age group.

Horouta added another gold to its coffers when its Whetumatarau crew won the junior 19 final, heading off a Tahitian crew by a second.

Whetumatarau were Cory Campbell, twin sister Kodi Campbell, Lucretia Tatapanui, Moelani Tureia-Siataga, Pharyn Calles and Te Ataakura Tanirau-Wickliffe.

Horouta’s Kaiarahi Toa ended the club’s memorable campaign with silver in the open women’s V6 500, won by a Tahitian crew.

Kaiarahi Toa’s crew were Akayshia Williams, Florrie Brooking, Jacqui Apiata, Riana King, Rose King and Sieda Tureia.

The Sunday success followed another medal haul on Saturday, highlighted by silvers to Horouta in the open men’s and women’s V6 1500m finals.

The T&G Woolley Kumaras crew of Bruce Campbell, Glenn Anderson, Grant Donaldson, Jed MacKenzie, Mike Morrissey and Steve Roulston were beaten by another New Zealand crew in their final.

Kaiarahi Toa — Florrie Brooking, Jacqui Apiata, Kiwi Campbell, Riana King, Rose King and Vesna Radonich — were second, 0.82secs behind a Tahiti six.

Horouta’s Nga Kopara Toa were sixth in the master 40 women’s V6 1000 final.

Mareikura stalwart Raipoia Brightwell, paddling for a Ruamata (Rotorua) club crew, collected gold in the master 50 women’s V6 1000. Other Kiwi crews also featured Gisborne paddlers.

New Zealand topped the medal table over the championships, finishing with 30 gold, 27 silver and 22 bronze. It was easily the most successful world champs campaign for Horouta.

More on the Gisborne performances in tomorrow’s Herald.