Crew keen to go one better

Nina Ross knows which direction she wants to go in waka ama - to the top.

Although in her first race at this year's Secondary School Waka Ama Championships at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) the 14-year-old thought they were going the wrong way.

The Lakes' High School student was part of the under-16 girls waka ama crew. The team is made up of Nina, Jordan, Annaliese Heyvel, Tenaya Chater, Erana Smith-Hunuhunu, Laura Adams and Allison Brailey.

All but one girl regularly have competed at a national level and the girls only started training together two weeks ago.

Despite this, Nina and her team finished second in the W6 500m bowl final behind V's Vixens from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kawakawa.

Nina, a Year 10 student, said she had enjoyed her first nationals. "It was different, it was exciting and the people [here] were really nice."

Lining up for her first race Nina admitted there were some nerves.

"It was scary and I was a little nervous. I was wondering if we were going in the right direction. Cause sometimes we were not sure which flags to go towards. But it went pretty well - we came like fourth."

The Tuwharetoa descendant said the team got stronger throughout the four-day regatta, culminating in the second in the Bowl Final.

Her team's placing has sparked the crew to train harder and return next year.

"We want to get our timing and everything sorted so it's absolutely perfect next time."

About 482 teams from 90 schools took part in the four-day event which wrapped up yesterday.

The under-16 boys championship 250m final was won by Kaipara College with Tawa College second and Rotorua Boys' High third.

Tawa College picked up the under-16 boys 500m final followed by Hamilton Boys' High School and Nga Taiatea Wharekura.

In the under-19 boys 250m final Huntly College were first followed by Western Springs College and De La Salle College. Huntly managed the double winning the 500m final with Kerikeri High School second and Trident High School third.

In the girls division the 250m final was won by Auckland Girls' Grammar with Te Kura-a-Iwi-o-Whakatupuranga Rua and Gisborne Girls' High School second and third respectively.

The 500m final was taken out by Gisborne Girls' High School followed by Auckland Girls' Grammar and Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga.

In the under-19 division Nga taiatea Wharekura won both the 250m and 500m finals with Epsom Girls Grammar School and Auckland Girls' Grammar second and third in the 250m. Auckland Girls' Grammar were second in the 500m followed by Lytton High School in third.