W1 champions: Williams sisters ace finals

PADDLES OF GOLD: Horouta Waka Hoe and Mareikura paddlers were in golden form in the W1 500 races at the waka ama sprint nationals on Lake Karapiro. Above, Rangi-Riana (pictured) and Akayshia Williams successfully defended their divisions — Rangi-Riana winning the junior 16 women’s final and Akayshia the premier women’s final. All pictures by Garrick Cameron

TENNIS has the Williams sisters.

So does waka ama.

Gisborne siblings Akayshia and Rangi-Riana Williams repeated history at the waka ama sprint nationals on Lake Karapiro yesterday.

With similar power to tennis’s most famous sisters (Serena and Venus), the Williams girls won their respective divisions on W1 day at the week-long regatta.

Akayshia sent the world a warning with victory in one of the blue riband events of the champs.

The Mareikura Canoe Club member successfully defended the premier women’s W1 500 metres title — highlighting a golden day for Gisborne clubs, particularly Horouta Waka Hoe.

With Tahiti hosting the Va’a world championships in July and Tahitian paddlers competing at the week-long New Zealand champs, it was a chance to make a statement.

Williams did that with a repeat defeat of rival and former Mareikura clubmate Marama Elkington, now with Porirua club TOA.

Last year, Williams beat multiple premier title winner Elkington by 5½ seconds.

The difference was reduced significantly this time — Williams crossing the finish line in 2 minutes 28.77 seconds, Elkington just 0.90 of a second behind her, with Marianna Hodges (Otaki) third in 2.33.08.

The next three places were filled by Horouta paddlers — Cory Campbell (2.33.76), Horouta and national coach Kiwi Campbell (2.33.82) and Sieda Tureia (2.37.03).

Te Whaeoranga Smallman was eighth and Mareikura clubmate Hiria Rolleston ninth.

This year, instead of the usual eight lanes, the course has been divided into 12 lanes for straight racing, meaning 12 qualify for finals.

Rangi-Riana completed the first half of the family double by retaining the junior 16 women’s crown.

She beat fellow Horouta paddler Gaibreill Wainohu by 2½ secs, with Horouta’s Katarina Niblett just out of the medals in fourth.

A day to rememberThe Donaldson whanau also had a day to remember.

Grant Donaldson (Hor) won the master men’s title by just 0.04 of a second from Wairarapa’s Paddy Rimene.

It completed a family double as earlier, daughter Piper Glass-Donaldson (Hor) won the intermediate girls’ final by nearly 4 secs.

Kodi Campbell (Cory’s twin sister) continued Horouta’s golden haul with victory in the under-23 women’s final. She was 1.76 secs ahead of clubmate Jhaymean Terekia, with Moelani Tureia Siataga (Hor) fourth and Rangituia Potaka (Marei) fifth.

The immense talent of Darius Apanui-Nepe was underlined. Last year he won the junior 16 men’s W1 title. This year he stepped up to J19 and won the final by 3.32 secs from clubmate Keanu Wainohu-Kemp.

Three Horouta paddlers made the premier men’s final won by Nga Hoe Horo sensation Tupu King in 2.11.51.

Ash Roozendall was third in 2.14.62, Bruce Campbell fifth in 2.15.60 and Glenn Anderson sixth in 2.15.63.

Mareikura’s Jarrod Hill won silver in the intermediate boys’ division, Anaru Paenga-Morgan (Hor) was second in the J16 men’s final and Vesna Radonich (Hor) was third in the master women’s age group.

The champs continue today with W6 and W12 racing over 500 and 1000m and the day ends with the premier women’s regional W12 500 race.

Meanwhile, Horouta members have been enjoying luxury surroundings over the week.

The club was drawn from 300 entries as the winner of exclusive VIP access to a hospitality tent.