City College hit the water

Whanganui City College waka ama competitors will be heading to the national secondary school championships next week.

Whanganui City College is sending 34 paddlers on a mission to Rotorua next week to compete in the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships 2017 on Blue Lake.

WCC paddlers range in age from 13 to 17 and will contest heats and hopefully finals in just two categories - W6 and far larger double hull 12-seaters.

Teacher-in-charge Michelle Peterson said the students were pumped and ready for action after some serious training on the Whanganui River.

"This competition is really growing and quite exciting. It is in Rotorua and for the first year ever, they have had more than 100 schools attending. Schools even come from Rarotonga to compete," Peterson said.

"We are also taking four coaches, three of whom are parents, and this is our sixth year competing.

"Ages of our paddlers range from 13 to 17 but they will be competing in the Under-16 and Under-19 grades.

"There are all sorts of craft classes too, but we will be focusing on the W6 and double-hull 12s.

"The larger craft will be a mixed crew with six boys and six girls."

Peterson said competition was tough at this level, but the crews would be doing their best to bring home some silverware.

The regatta starts on Tuesday and runs through until Friday next week.