Paddlers make a splash at waka ama long-distance nationals

THEY’VE GONE THE DISTANCE: Among the local paddlers who took part in races for individuals at the waka ama long-distance nationals were, above left (from left): Richard Campbell, Kara Te Whata-Maynard, Denise Tapp, Raipoia Brightwell and Tony Tapp. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Tairawhiti paddlers made their mark at the waka ama long-distance nationals in the sea off Napier last weekend.

Mareikura Waka Ama Club coach Raipoia Brightwell, paddling for the Ruamata club, won gold in the golden master women’s W1 (one-person) 16-kilometre race for rudderless waka in a time of 1 hour 59 minutes 08 seconds. She and Mareikura paddler Carolyn Hodgkinson won team gold with Ruamata’s senior master women’s crew Ngaruroa for the W6 (six-person) 24km race.

Denise Tapp (Mareikura) won bronze in the senior master women’s W1 16km rudderless in 1:54:57, and Kara Te Whata-Maynard (Mareikura) was fourth in the master women’s W1 16km rudderless in 2:02:00.

Tony Tapp (Mareikura) coached Denise Tapp and Te Whata-Maynard, and also paddled in the senior master men’s W1 16km rudderless, finishing 12th in 1:41:47.

Grant Donaldson (Horouta Waka Hoe) won silver in the master men’s W1 16km rudderless, in 1:31:46.

Twins Cory and Kodi Campbell (Horouta) won silver and bronze respectively in the open women’s W1 16km rudderless in times of 1:52:12 and 1:53:03.

Kodi Campbell won gold in the Porirua Canoe Kayak Club open mixed W6 24km team named PCKC Turou Turou.

Anaru Paenga-Morgan (Horouta) was third in the junior 16 (J16) men’s W1 10km rudderless in 50:34, while Darius Apanui-Nepe (Horouta) was just out of the medals, in fourth place, in the J19 W1 10km rudderless in 48:54.

Paenga-Morgan and Apanui-Nepe were picked up by the Mitamitaga club’s Team Paddle Fly for the J19 men’s W6 16km race, and won gold.

Other teams to gain medal positions: Tairawhiti (Horouta/Mareikura) — Denise Tapp, Violet Tuapawa-Crawford, Mihi Aston, Whetumarama Mita, Kara Te Whata-Maynard, Sheryl Tuari — 2nd, master women’s W6 24km (2:24:24).

Golden Bionics (Horouta) — Gary Paul, Barney Williams, Leon Williams, Guy Wainohu, Anaru Jones, Ihaia Wiremu — 2nd, golden master men’s W6 16km (1:32:59).

Who’s the Boss (Horouta) — Suzi Langford, Katrina Hughes, Kathy Hayes, Kathy Sheldrake, Marianne Gillingham, Janice Charteris — 3rd, golden master women’s W6 16km (1:52:52).

Other placings, individuals: Master men’s W1 16km rudderless — Richard Campbell (Hor), 12th (1:44:16); David Apelu (Hor), 13th (1:44:25); Basil Morgan (Hor), 17th (1:52:33).

Teams: Team Voltron (Horouta) — David Apelu, Paora Anderson, Grant Donaldson, Basil Morgan, Tony Tapp (Mareikura), Richard Campbell — 5th, master men’s W6 24km (2:00:58).

Ko Wai To Papa (Horouta) — Mani Williams, Victor Teneti, Hadfield Kutia, Kelvin Teneti, Whitu Turipa, Carl Brouwer — 7th, senior master men’s W6 24km (2:12:04).