Campbell looking for dual-code titles

Gisborne Boys’ High School student Maia Campbell paddling for Horouta Waka Hoe club at the Waka Ama Nationals. He is competing in the waka ama and kayaking events at the National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships in Rotorua this week. It is the first time that kayaking has been added to the schedule. Picture supplied

Waka ama paddlers preparing for world champs are among those who have been learning about kayaking on the Waimata River in the past few months.

Gisborne Boys’ High School student Maia Campbell, who won the J19 men’s 250-metre dash at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karapiro in January, is competing in both waka ama and kayak events at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) at Rotorua this week.

His parents, Bruce and Kiwi Campbell, are in Rotorua helping the Gisborne Boys’ High and Gisborne Girls’ High teams at the National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships. For the first time, the event will include the New Zealand Canoe Racing Secondary School Nationals.

Kiwi Campbell said that in waka ama Maia would contest the W1 250-metre sprint, the W6 500m race with one turn, and the W6 250m. In kayaking, he would contest the K1 250m sprint, the long-distance K1 2500m and the team relay with his Boys’ High teammates.

She said the paddlers had become interested in taking part in kayak races when they learned the kayak champs were being held in conjunction with their own. In learning the techniques of kayaking, some benefits had become apparent. Skills picked up in the kayak had proved useful in the waka, and it provided an enjoyable variation in training.

Tairāwhiti is well represented at the national secondary school championships. Racing starts today and over 2000 students from 132 secondary schools will take part in either waka ama or kayaking events.

Tairāwhiti schools represented are: Campion College, 14 waka ama paddlers; Gisborne Boys’ High School, 18 waka ama, 5 kayakers; Gisborne Girls’ High School, 24 waka ama, 8 kayak; Lytton High School, 27 waka ama; Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta Wananga, 19 waka ama; TKKM o Nga Uri a Maui, 13 waka ama, 1 kayak; TKKM o Ngati Kahungunu o Te Wairoa, 32 waka ama; TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou (Ruatoria), 24 waka ama; Tolaga Bay Area School & Kahukuranui, 15 waka ama; and Wairoa College, 7 waka ama.

The National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships started in 2002 and the event has grown every year to be one of the largest participation secondary school events on the calendar.

Schools from as far north as Kaitaia and as far south as Queenstown are taking part in the event, as well as two schools from Tahiti. Racing starts today and finishes on Friday.