Waka Ama: Boys' High paddle to double gold

GOING FOR IT: The gold-medal winning Rotorua Boys' High School W6 crew of Rawiri Manley (left), Tihema Ned, Kaipo Brown, Manaaki Te Kowhai, Tipene James and Matangireia Yates-Francis in action on Tikitapu (Blue Lake). PHOTO/SUPPLIED

1500 students take part in waka ama championships

There were plenty of smiles and pats on the back from Rotorua Boys' High School supporters who watched the school's top W6 crew race away to a national title.

The final day of the ActivePost Waka Ama Secondary Schools Championships were held at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) yesterday, featuring the 250m and 500m W6 finals.

More than 1500 paddlers and spectators visited Tikitapu this week during the four-day event.

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Boys' High crew Pukeroa won the under-16 boys W6 500m final in a tight contest against Tawa College (Wellington) yesterday.

Pukeroa paddler Tihema Ned, 15, said they started to pull away at the turn, about 250m into the race.

"After the turn we were about a boat length ahead," he said. "Our steerer came in sharp for a really-good, early turn."

The six-man crew powered home to win in a time of 2min 9.06sec, half a second in front of Tawa College.

Ned said it was a great feeling to claim gold.

"I just heard it on the intercom 'first place' and everyone was splashing the water."

Fellow Boys' High paddler Manaaki Te Kowhai, 15, said it was his first gold medal at the secondary school champs.

"It's a mean feeling to know you have won a gold medal."

Other crew members in the winning W6 boat included Matangireia Yates-Francis, 16, Tipene James, 15, Rawiri Manley, 15, and Kaipo Brown, 14.

Brown won another gold medal on Tuesday as well, during the first day of competition, in the under-16 boys W1 250m final.

The Pukeroa W6 crew had another chance to medal yesterday in the 250m race. Boys' High paddler Valen Kiel, 16, came into the boat for Ned.

The crew raced well and almost claimed a second gold medal but they were beaten in a photo finish with Tawa College, the same crew which they defeated in the W6 500m final.

Tawa won in a time of 55.32sec just in front of Rotorua Boys' High School (55.62sec).

Other local schools to claim medals this week included Western Heights High School, Rotorua Girls' High School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata and Trident High School (Whakatane).

Trident High School paddler Joshua Walters won a gold medal in the under-19 boys W1 250m final on Tuesday, with fellow Trident student Ashley Roozendaal finishing in third.

Another Trident student Janneke Olthius secured a silver medal for her school in the under-19 girls W1 250m final, with Ruamata paddler Taylor Taute-Hohepa picking up the bronze medal.

Rotorua Girls' High School teamed up with Rotorua Boys' High School to win bronze in the under-16 mixed W12 250m final.

Local schools on the podium at waka ama champs:

- Rotorua Boys' High School: Two gold (U16 boys W6 500m, U16 boys W1 250m), one silver (U16 boys W6 250m), one bronze (U16 mixed WT12 250m).

- Trident High School: One gold (U19 boys W1 250m), one silver (U19 girls W1 250m), one bronze (U19 boys W1 250m).

- Western Heights High School: One silver (U16 boys W1 250m).

- Rotorua Girls' High School: One bronze (U16 mixed WT12 250m).

- Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata: One bronze (U19 girls W1 250m).