National canoe polo championships coming to Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay Hurricanes A1 players Sam Warren (left) and Mitch Graham playing in the Art Deco tournament earlier this year. Photo / Paul Taylor

There'll be paddle action aplenty this weekend as Canoe Polo Hawke's Bay hosts the 2020 national championships.

Teams from as far south as Invercargill and as far north as Auckland will travel to the Hawke's Bay's Mitre 10 Park to compete in the three-day National Club Championships from October 24.

Canoe Polo Hawke's Bay chairperson Kelly Hepburn said the tournament is about getting players back paddling again after the national season was cancelled due to Covid-19.

"The purpose of this weekend's competition is to get the countries' club teams back in their boats and in a competition environment," Hepburn said.

According to Canoe Polo Hawke's Bay, the sport was brought to the region in 1991.

Hepburn said entries were lower than expected but Canoe Polo Hawke's Bay is still pleased with the overall turnout.

"Entry numbers were a little lower than we thought they would be at 48 teams but we're happy with the numbers attending; it's going to make for some spectacular canoe polo," Hepburn said.

Hawke's Bay's A-grade women's team the Hurrikets – who are coached by Hepburn – are wanting to sink their teeth into the competition.

Hepburn said the team is a mix of experience and youth.

"The Hurrikets are hoping to compete competitively with the introduction of some knowledge from a few experienced players back in the Bay and some young talent wanting to make their mark," Hepburn said.

Hawke's Bay's A-grade men's team, the Hurricanes, will be looking to maintain their top-three spot after last year's national league season.

Hurricanes player-coach and former Paddle Black Jed Graham said the squad is looking to go one better and make the club final.

"Based on previous results we are in and around the top three and we're pretty keen to stay there. But we'd obviously love to make a final this time round."

"It's a lot earlier in the season to have such a big national competition like this; it'll be really interesting to see how teams will cope at this time of the year," Graham said.

With four full-sized courts, the Mitre 10 Park Hawke's Bay facilities provide a useful space for tournament.

The Hawke's Bay teams have braved cold waters over winter, using the new canoe polo complex in order to be tournament ready.

Graham said practicing throughout the winter hasn't been easy.

"We only had a month in the new Aquatic Centre last summer, and then weren't allowed to use it during alert level 3 and 4," he said.

"We've been back in it over the winter which hasn't been ideal conditions for paddling."

"We're really enjoying using it now the days are long and the weather is warm. It's a fantastic facility, and are really privileged to have it in Hawke's Bay," Graham added.

The National Club Championships will be streamed live on Sky Sport Next on October 26.