Memorable world champs

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

BRING on Tahiti and the 2018 world champs is the early call after Gisborne paddlers shone at the Va’a world sprints in Australia.

Laden with medals of every colour, paddlers have returned or are returning home following a memorable world elite and club championships on the Sunshine Coast’s Lake Kawana.

Mareikura and Horouta paddlers made an immense contribution to New Zealand’s medal table-topping haul of 30 gold, 27 silver and 22 bronze.

They won at elite, open and junior 16 and 19 level in V1, V6 and V12 waka.

Several other Gisborne paddlers joined crews from other New Zealand clubs and also enjoyed medal success.

The elite performers, under the banner of Aotearoa, lived up to all expectations of their coaches, who included Gisborne’s Matahi Brightwell and Kiwi Campbell.

Various stories are emerging from the champs and will feature in The Herald ove rthe coming weeks.