Te Kotahi and Erik win North Island titles

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

Te Kotahi Kaio has won his first Clubs NZ Darts Association junior boys' singles championship title, and Erik Pu has won his first youth male singles championship title after a great comeback in the finals.

Brezzn Sports Club members Corey Kaio, Te Kotahi Kaio, Ihaka Kaio-Wynyard, Erik Pu, Stef Hogan, Dudley Reeves, Tristan Reeves, Bray Reeves, Angela Leach, Renata Leach, Boyso Awatere, Pani Awatere, Mihi Awatere, Riria Awatere-Kohonui, Ursh Heurea, Barbara Daly, Willy Kimura, Chiarn Waikawa and Tiana Kauika travelled to Upper Hutt for the Clubs New Zealand Darts Association 49th North Island Darts Tournament hosted by the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club.

On Day 1 in the mixed pairs contested by 129 entries, Dudley Reeves and daughter Bray, Willy Kimura and Angela Leach progressed to the main-round knockout section, and progressed through to one more round before eventually being eliminated.

Eventual winners were Shane Battock and Lee Wright from Wainuiomata Darts Club.

In the consolation round, Erik Pu and mum Stef progressed down to the last eight pairs to receive the fifth-equal-place prize envelope.

On Day 2 in the junior and youth section of the set men's and women's pairs, the Kaio brothers Te Kotahi and Ihaka, R Leach and Willy Kimura progressed to the knockout round in the 111-entry men's competiton. Leach and Kimura progressed to the last 16 but were eliminated by Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club duo Anthony (AJ) Te Kira and Barry Gray, who eventually won the pairs title.

Te Kotahi and Ihaka went through to last eight and were up against New Zealand reps Steven Gooch and Mark Cleaver from Waitara District Services and Citizens Club. The Kaio brothers took the first two legs to lead 2-0 with some amazing checkouts, Ihaka finishing with a bulls-eye 130 checkout on the second leg which caught everyone's attention.

However, the experience of Gooch and Cleaver prevailed and they took the third leg. Gooch had to pull out some big checkouts to win — a 107 in the fourth leg and 118 in the fifth and final leg.

Te Kotahi and Ihaka received prize envelopes as fifth-equal placegetters.

Consolation-round winners were Erik Pu and Tristan Reeves

In the 59-entry women's pairs, Mihi Awatere and Barbara Daly, Angela Leach and Chiarn Waikawa, and Tiana Kauika and Riria Awatere-Kohonui progressed through to the main knockout round.

Awatere/Daly and Leach/Waikawa reached the last eight pairs, both coming in fifth-equal. The eventual winners were Stacey Heavey and Tanaya Wikaira from West City Darts Association

In the junior boys' section, Te Kotahi Kaio won six straight games to win his first NZ Clubs junior boys' championship title for 2020. He defeated Bailey Black from Rangitaiki Cosmopolitan Club in the finals. Third-equal were Renata Leach and Ihaka Kaio-Wynyard.

In the junior girls' section, Taylor-Marsh Kahaki from Weymouth Cosmopolitan Club defeated Bray Reeves in the final to win the junior girls' championship title for 2020. Third place went to Chiarn Waikawa.

In the youth male's section, Erik Pu was the only entry from Brezzn club. He defeated Josh Walters from Waihi RSA in the finals after being down 2-0 to win 4-2 for his first NZ Clubs youth male championship title.

The women's singles had 124 entries. Kauika Daly, A Leach, B Reeves and Waikawa went through to main round round with Leach losing 3-2 to eventual winner Judy Fenton from Whangamata Club.

The men's singles drew 230 entries. Pu, D Reeves, T Reeves, Kimura and the Kaio brothers went through to the main round knockout. The eventual winner was Darren Herewini from the Porirua club.