WAKA AMA: number in youngest age group a champs record

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

A RECORD 750-plus taitamariki (youth) under the age of 10 raced on the first day of the waka ama sprint nationals at Lake Karapiro yesterday.

Horouta Waka Hoe Club's W12 team of midget girls (taitamahine), Hinekahurangi-Ariki, won Heat 1 of the 250-metre double-hull race.

In Heat 2, the Horouta team Sassy Divas finished second.

In Heat 3, Mareikura Canoe Club's Gizzy Dream Gurlz were second.

Hinekahurangi-Ariki (Hor) won the first championship semifinal and Gizzy Dream Gurlz (Mar) were fourth.

Sassy Divas (Hor) were second in the second semifinal.

The YMP Waka Ama team of midget boys (taitama), Te Pahou, won Heat 2 of the W6 250m, and Turanga Taniwha, of Horouta, were third.

Horouta team 6 Mullets won Heat 3 of the same event, while Mareikura Canoe Club's Rangiwaho crew were second in Heat 4.

In the first cup semifinal, M2K Paikea Midgets (Hor) were third, having come fifth in their heat.

In the first championship semifinal, 6 Mullets (Hor) and Rangiwaho (Mar) were second and third respectively.

In the taitamahine W6 250m, Horouta crews Ataahua Gems and Hinekahurangi-Ariki won heats 1 and 2 respectively and YMP's Pipiwhakao won Heat 5.

In Heat 3, Hinetakawhiti (Horouta) and Dream Gurlz (Mareikura) were second and third respectively.

Wai-A-Papa (Adventure Wairoa) were second in the second cup semifinal, having come fifth in Heat 4.

In the first championship semifinal, Horouta teams Hinekahurangi-Ariki and Ataahua Gems were second and third respectively.

In the second championship semi, YMP crew Pipiwhakao were second.

In the taitama W12 250m, YMP's Te Pahou-Pipiwhakao team won Heat 1, and Taniwha & Mullets won Heat 3.

Paikea Midgets (Hor) were fourth in the second cup semifinal, having finished sixth in their heat.

In the second championship semifinal, Mareikura crew Anzac Flyers, Rangiwaho were second.

Competition today was to start with intermediate paddlers (11 to 13), followed by J16s and championship finals for the six-to-10-year taitamariki. Over 2100 paddlers were to compete today.