More gold medals for Horouta crews

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

Horouta Waka Hoe Club’s Puhi Kaiariki crew completed a notable double on the final day of the IVF Va’a World Sprint Championships in Tahiti.

They added the Junior 16 women’s V6 500-metre title to the V6 1000m they had won the day before.

The crew of Ariata Kutia, Fushia Tibble, Katarina Niblett, Kelsey Teneti, Mikaylah Tamati and Te Aomihia Pewhairangi crossed the finish line 0.39 of a second before another New Zealand crew, Okareka, of Hei Matau Paddlers.

Horouta’s Hinetoa crew completed a one-two regatta result when they won the Junior 19 women’s V6 500m. They were runners-up in the V6 1000m final the day before.

The winning 500m crew of Gaibreill Wainohu, Kelsey Teneti, Kian Glass-Donaldson, Maia Niwa-Apelu, Rangi-Riana Williams and Tia Akurangi were 0.38 of a second faster than second-placed Tiare Maori, of Te Paerangi.

Teneti was a member of both gold-medal-winning crews on the final day. Teneti, Williams and Wainohu were members of both the J16 and J19 women’s V6 1000m crews that won gold and silver respectively.

Horouta’s open women’s crew Kaiarahi Toa took silver in the V6 500m to go with their silver-medal finish in the V6 1500m the day before.

The 500m crew of Cory Campbell, Florrie Brooking, Kiwi Campbell, Kodi Campbell, Sieda Tureia and Tui McCaull crossed the finish line 2.32 seconds after winning crew Teva, of Tahiti.

Baby Heli’s, Horouta’s J16 men’s crew, were third in the V6 500m for their age group. Crew members were Anaru Paenga-Morgan, Kayleb Te Whare, Lyric Baty-Akurangi, Mairangi Campbell, Manaakiao Maxwell and Tane Ruru.

Results from the final day of competition at the IVF Va’a World Sprint Championships in Pirae, Tahiti —

Junior 16 women’s V6 500: Horouta Waka Ama — Puhi Kaiariki 1st (by 0.39 seconds from Hei Matau Paddlers — Okareka) — Ariata Kutia, Fushia Tibble, Katarina Niblett, Kelsey Teneti, Mikaylah Tamati, Te Aomihia Pewhairangi.

Junior 16 men’s V6 500: Horouta — Baby Heli’s 3rd — Anaru Paenga-Morgan, Kayleb Te Whare, Lyric Baty-Akurangi, Mairangi Campbell, Manaakiao Maxwell, Tane Ruru.

Mareikura Waka Ama Club — Tupaea 8th.

Master 60 women’s V6 500: Ngati Rehia Wahine Rehutai 5th.

Junior 19 women’s V6 500: Horouta — Hinetoa 1st (by 0.38 seconds from Te Paerangi — Tiare Maori) — Gaibreill Wainohu, Kelsey Teneti, Kian Glass-Donaldson, Maia Niwa-Apelu, Rangi-Riana Williams, Tia Akurangi.

Horouta — Pipitaiari 4th; Mareikura — Poemoana 5th.

Master 50 women’s V6 500: Ruamata — Ngaruroa 6th; Mareikura — Tairawhiti 7th.

Open women’s V6 500: Horouta — Kaiarahi Toa 2nd (to Tahiti — Teva by 2.32 seconds) — Cory Campbell, Florrie Brooking, Kiwi Campbell, Kodi Campbell, Sieda Tureia, Tui McCaull.