Bay of Plenty top two finish at rafting champs

Bay of Plenty rafting team Ghost Chips have over come a slow start to finish second overall on day one of the pre-world white water rafting champs on the Kaituna River today.

The team had to paddle with only five paddlers after one of their crew members broke a paddle at the start of their run in the sprint heats today.

Ghost Chips paddler Paul Roozendaal said he thorough the team had blown it after the poor start but was pleased to finish in third behind current world champs Team Japan and Czech Republic

team Bestie Czech.

The Bay team then beat Bestie Czech in their head to head race to meet Team Japan in the final narrowly going down to the visitors.

Competition continues tomorrow when the eight men and one women's team travel to Kawerau's Tarawera River for the Slalom section of the three day event.

The competition wraps up with a down river race on the Rangitaiki River on Sunday.

Results;

Sprint

Open women; Okere Ladies (NZL) 3:00.99

Open men; Team Japan 2:30.48, 1; Bestie Czech 2:43.33, 2; Ghost Chips (NZL), Team Doric Sydney 2:46.38, 4; Team Cairns 2:54.02, 5; OPC (NZL) 2:54.94, 6.

Masters men; BTA (NZL) 2:44.41, 1; Aotearoa Paddlers (NZL) 2:45.60, 2.

Head to Head

Open women; Okere Ladies

Open men; Team Japan 1, Ghost Chips 2, Bestie Czech 3, Team Doric Sydney 4, Team Cairns 5, OPC 6.

Masters men; Aotearoa Paddlers 1, BTA 2.

Overall points after day one.

Open women; Okere Ladies 300

Open men; Team Japan 300, Ghost Chips 255, Bestie Czech 246, Doric Sydney 216, Cairns 207, OPC 198.

Masters men; Aotearoa Paddlers 288, BTA 276.