Williams in class of her own on way to sixth Premier title

Waka ama superstar Akayshia Williams underlined her status as one of the greats of her sport with a sixth premier women’s W1 500 metres title at the national sprint championships on Lake Karāpiro on Wednesday. Wearing the Horouta Waka Hoe colours, Williams powered her green machine to a comprehensive victory in the final — leading all the way and crossing the finish line over five seconds clear of her nearest rival. Williams added the 2024 crown to Premier titles in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2023. She was second in 2019 and the champs were cancelled in 2022 due to Covid. Williams led another outstanding performance by the Horouta contingent including matching masters titles to husband and wife Bruce and Kiwi Campbell. Picture by Garrick Cameron

She’s no Dame yet but Tairāwhiti juggernaut Akayshia Williams showed similarities to Olympic Games kayaking superpower Lisa Carrington as she made it six Premier women’s crowns on W1 day of the waka ama sprint nationals.

The Self Storage Horouta Waka Hoe paddler was in a class of her own as Gisborne waka ama clubs collected 15 medals on Day 4 of the champs being held on Lake Karāpiro — five gold, six silver and four bronze.

Williams was the star as she racked up her sixth Premier W1 500 metres title in eight years. She won her first in 2017 and other than 2019, when she was second, has won every once since. The nationals were not held in 2022 due to Covid.

Her latest was a one-horse race. Williams took the lead from the start and never looked back as she blitzed her way to the finish line in a time of  2 minutes and 36.76 seconds — more than 5secs clear of second-placed Ngatuire Hapi of the Hei Matau Paddlers club.

Williams, in cruise mode as she neared the line, celebrated with a fist pump, then signalled three fingers on each hand — depicting the six Premier victories.

Clubmate Jas Stevenson was sixth while former Horouta paddlers Rose King (racing for Ngā Hoe Horo) and Kodi Campbell (Waka Ama o Whakatāne) were fifth and seventh respectively. Tolaga Bay’s Tania Hill was 12th.

The Premier Women’s final was the last race of the finals and ended a golden day for Horouta.

Earlier, husband and wife Bruce and Kiwi Campbell did the masters double.

Bruce successfully defended his 2023 title with a polished performance. He got to the front early and stayed there to win in a time of 2:20.09 — 2½secs clear of silver medallist Sam Misiepo of Manukau.

Kiwi exploded from the start of her masters women’s final to get a huge jump on the field. She never relented until about five metres from the finish when she began her celebrations. Her time of 2:41.64 was just shy of 3sec ahead of Horouta clubmate Tui McCaull with another Tairāwhiti paddler, Vesna Radonich (competing for Whakatāne) third.

The Campbell whānau almost got to celebrate a golden treble. Son Maia was pipped for gold in the junior 19 men’s final. In a frantic finish, he was beaten by less than a second by Manukau’s Marlin Toloa.

In earlier Horouta success, Jason Reti paddled to silver in the senior masters men’s final in 2:22.24; Kerry Johnston won bronze in the  golden master women’s final in 2:56.60; and Keri Ngatoro earned silver in the under-23 women’s division in 2:44.80.

Horouta had a one-two finish in the junior 16 women’s final. Hine Brooking won in 2:37.75 with teammate Marine Toloa second ony 1.36secs later.

Riria Ata showed she is one for the future as she won the intermediate girls’ final in 2:54.98, with fellow Horouta paddler Pyper Wainohu third.

Gisborne’s Mareikura club made the podium in the intermediate boys’ final where Rory Gifford clocked 2:52.52 to claim third.

In one of the closest races of the day, Horouta’s Marianne Gillingham had a ding-dong battle with Kura Heke of Aratika Water Sports Club — Heke winning by just 0.12 of a second.

Horouta’s Diane Reilly was third in the masters 75 women’s final.