Local rafters claim medal haul at world champs

The New Zealand open women's team during the 2017 World Rafting Championships in Japan. Photo/Garrick Cameron

New Zealand rafting teams, largely made up of Rotorua paddlers, have returned from the World Rafting Championships in Japan with an impressive haul of medals.

At the championships, which ran from October 6 to 9 on the Yoshino River on the island of Shikoku, there were medals available for sprint, head to head, slalom and down river disciplines. Teams also earned points in each race which went towards their overall placings.

The masters women were the pick of the New Zealand teams, finishing first in the sprint, head to head and down river races, and third in the slalom, to defend the overall title they won in 2013.

The New Zealand open women's team finished first in the sprint, second in the down river, third in the slalom and fourth in head to head to take second place behind the host nation, Japan.

2017 World Rafting Championships

Posted by IRF World Rafting Championships on Monday, 9 October 2017

The New Zealand youth women's team rounded out an impressive showing by New Zealand's female teams, also claiming the silver medal overall. In a great display of consistency, they finished second in all four disciplines to claim second behind a dominant Russian team.

New Zealand's masters men found themselves up against some tough opposition, including the Japanese team who won all four disciplines to claim gold. New Zealand finished second in the sprint and head to head, third in the down river and fourth in the slalom to take the bronze medal overall.

The New Zealand junior men's team also claimed bronze overall after finishing first in head to head, third in slalom and sprint, and fourth in down river. Russia finished first and Argentina finished second in the junior men's division.

World Rafting Championship New Zealand teams

Open Women - Silver:
Anne Cairns (Hawke's Bay)
Nikki Whitehead (Rotorua)
Nicola Kelly (Rotorua)
Sarah Christie (Christchurch)
Corrina Cage (Tauranga)
Kelly Wood (Rotorua)
Sarah Uhl (Okere Falls)

Masters Men - Bronze:
Nick Chater (Okere Falls)
John Snook (Okere Falls)
Michael Nuku (Napier)
Dai Edwards (Rotorua)
Troy Dolman (Mt Maunganui)
Paul Eames (Mangaweka)
Tim Marshall (Murchison)

Youth Women - Silver:
Kelsey Eames (Mangaweka/Okere Falls)
Te Waia Nuku (Napier)
Ani Chater (Okere Falls)
Tenaya Chater (Okere Falls)
Bella Uhl (Okere Falls)
Annaliese Heuvel (Rotorua)
Georgia Dobbe (Rotorua)

Masters Women - Gold:
Kimi Chater (Okere Falls)
Miriam Odlin (Mourea)
Alana Whiteman (Okere Falls)
Meta Faber (Rotorua)
Raanj Rapana (Whakatane)
Kylie Laxton-Blinkhorn (Rotorua)
Roni Nuku (Napier)

Junior Men - Bronze:
Tom Dobbe (Rotorua)
Ben Dobbe (Rotorua)
Max Dobbe (Rotorua)
Henry Carr (Rotorua)
Shaun Cox (Christchurch/Rotorua)
James Wilkins (Christchurch/Rotorua)
Ryan Wilkins (Christchurch/Rotorua)