Powerful display by Tairāwhiti paddlers on final day of Waka Ama Sprint Nationals

Horouta Waka Hoe paddler Hine Brooking powered her way to victory in the junior 19 women’s W1 250-metre dash on Lake Karāpiro on the final day of racing in the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. Brooking went into the race on the back of winning the J19 women’s W1 500 crown earlier in the week. Picture by Garrick Cameron

Tairāwhiti paddlers dominated the 250-metre races that traditionally close the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karāpiro.

Kaiarahi Toa had just won the final teams race of the champs — the premier women’s W6 500 metres — for Self Storage Gisborne Horouta Waka Hoe Club.

Individual paddlers then put the seal on the week’s competition with four breathtaking exhibitions of power and speed over 250m.

Maia Campbell, of Horouta, won the J19 men’s dash in a time of 1 minute 6.25 seconds, an improvement of 0.95 of a second on the time that earned him third place last year.

Mareikura Waka Ama Club’s Jack Gifford was seventh in 1:11.23.

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Horouta clubmates Hine Brooking and Marnie Toloa were first and second respectively in the J19 women’s dash.

Brooking’s time of 1:17.25 was 0.45 of a second faster than that of Toloa.

Manutea Millon, of Akarana Waka Ama, won the premier men’s race in 1:02.22, but Horouta paddler Bruce Campbell — winner of the master men’s W1 500m race — was right in the mix. He finished sixth of 11 starters, in 1:05.09.

The premier women’s dash was another Horouta quinella, although winner Akayshia Williams has also received plenty of guidance from Mareikura founder and coach Matahi Brightwell.

Williams paddled the distance in 1:09.78, and Horouta club coach Kiwi Campbell was second in 1:12.84.

Horouta club chairman Walton Walker said female paddlers again led the way for Horouta, in terms of medals.

The women’s J16 crew Puhi Kaiariki and the various Kaiarahi Toa teams in the adult divisions were outstanding, but it was also pleasing to see new paddlers gaining the experience of competing in the national champs.