PADDLES TO THE MEDALS

SIX GUNS: Mareikura junior 16 men's crew Ngaa Tama Toa dig it in on a choppy Lake Karapiro during day 3 action at the Aotearoa waka ama sprint championships. Ngaa Tama Toa collected a gold in the W6 500 metres final and two silver medals. The champs continued today with a full day of W1 racing.

Tairawhiti crews dug deep in some tight races on day three at the waka ama sprint nationals in testing conditions on Lake Karapiro yesterday.

The first final of the day was the closest. Horouta Waka Hoe crew Mairangi's Tanes beat Mareikura Waka Ama Club's Ngaa Tama Toa by just 0.31 of a second in a thrilling junior 16 boys W12 500 metres final.

Tairawhiti crews did well in other tight tussles yesterday.

Ngaa Tama Toa (Mareikura) won their J16 boys W6 500m final by 0.5 of a second, heading off TOA Waka Ama Club's Whitireia.

Horouta intermediate boys' crew Tangata Hianga won their W12 500m final, edging Ruamata Waka Ama boat Maninihau by 1.41sec.

Tangata Hianga (Horouta) also won the W6 500m final.

The W12 J16 girls' crew for Horouta, Puhi Kaiariki, won their 500m final and Mareikura were fourth.

The first of the turn races were held yesterday.

Tangata Hianga capped off a great day for by winning the W6 500m turn event — their third gold medal in a huge day for the young gun crew.

YMP crew Rukopo were fourth.

In the intermediate girls, Horouta's Hinepukohurangi were second in the W6 500m turn final and third in the W6 500m final.

Nga Tamatoa were second in the J16 boys' W6 1000m.

Horouta, the reigning overall club champions, added another gold to their collection in the last final of the day.

Puhi Kaiariki (Horouta) won the J16 girls' W6 1000m by nearly 9secs.

YMP crew Puketapu were fifth and Horouta's Puhi Kaimoana sixth.

The 2020 Te Wananga o Aotearoa National Sprint Championships started on Sunday with junior races and have stepped up in intensity through the week.

An action-packed day of individual races was scheduled for today.