Northland paddlers collect medals at Vaka Eiva

Ngaire Pehi finished third in the master women 12km race. Photo / Kristin Edge

Northland paddlers were among the medal winners on day one of competitive waka ama racing in Rarotonga.

More than 1200 paddlers are competing in the 10th Vaka Eiva that has attracted international competitors from all round the world.

Tahitian paddlers dominated the first day of singles races claiming gold in the mens and womens V1 races, in ideal sea conditions.

Paddlers found themselves going into a breeze for the first half of the race which then meant surfing home on the small swells for the second half.

There were four Northlanders who were presented with medals in the OC1 and V1 12km races.

Ngaire Pehi claimed bronze in the open women OC1 and was followed in by fellow Parihaka team members Tracey Gilmore, 6th , and Birgit Meister, 7th.

In the open men 18km race Tupu King just missed out on a medal by finishing 4th in a hotly contested race. Jamille Ruka of the Te Puu Ao club finished 12th while Mitamitaga club member Shane Hohaia finished 22nd.

In the U19 V1 division Kingi Herewini paddled himself into 5th place.

Clayton Wikaira, who always seems to be on the dias at Vaka Eiva, has another medal to add to his collection after finishing 3rd in the master men 12km V1 race.

World sprint champion Richard Pehi , of Parihaka, was 7th followed by Ralph Ruka, of Te Puu Ao, in 12th.

In the senior master men V1 division Rob Cameron, of Ngati Rehia Kaihoe, claimed 3rd place while Nigel Draper managed 7th place.

Henrietta Sakey was 7th in the senior master woman 12km race, while Lawrence "Skin" Adkins was 3rd in the golden master men OC1 division.

Northlanders will be in action for the V6 iron races on Monday (Tues NZ) over 12 and 18km. Due to the large numbers of entries, racing will start at 7am (Raro time).