PBKC consistently featured in the final races of most events, from 100m, 200m, 500m and 1000m to 5000m and mixed relays.
Standout performances included Max Egan in the 12 and under males division, winning five golds in the K1, K2 and K4.
Charlotte Willoughby matched him in the 12 and under females division with another five golds, including dominating the 200m and 500m distances and paddling with Max in the mixed K2 and K4 events, to take two more gold.
These were stellar performances from young and future stars of sprint kayaking.
Jacqueline Kennedy won eight medals, including five golds across two age groups.
She was on fire in her K1 200m and 500m races, and took out the national titles and gold medals in both 16 and under, and 18 and under women’s divisions, capturing the attention of commentators and spectators alike.
She also featured in the U16 womens K4 to take gold in the 500m race against some strong team boats.
Hannah Webb earned two golds in the 18 and under division in the longer 1000m and 5km races.
Highlights in the tough and fast 18 and under mens division were podium success in the K4 500m by Maxwell Kennedy, James Hamblyn, Maia Campbell and Ollie Egan. and a national title for Maxwell in the K1 5000m race with portages.
The fast-developing under-18 mens team featured in all the A finals of their division and are a team to watch for the future.
Quaid Thompson was in his consistent high performance form, retaining his national title in the K1 1000m and dominating the 5km race with portages to take another gold for PBKC.
Quaid teamed up with Sam and Zach Ferkins, and U18 paddler Matt McKendry, and earned a podium placing in the open K4, racing against the proposed NZ men’s Olympic team.
Newcomers to kayaking Kiwi Campbell, Sonia Keepa, Kaiarahi Brooking-Haapu, Hine Brooking, Georgia Hamblyn and Cheidan Moetara dominated the novice women’s divison, showing skill and management of water craft across all age groups and distances.
Along with Bruce Campbell, Frazor Wainohu and Kaedyn Thrupp, they transferred their huge waka ama skills to the sprint kayak boats to take wins in the novice divisions.
The under-14 K4, including Gus Kinsella, Celia Willoughby, Riria Ata and Mana Wainohu, were outstanding in taking gold in the 500m, backed up with silver in the 200m.
Strong performances by Celia Willoughby, Taylor Newman, AJ Kinsella, Bebe Kemp, Zoe Keepa and U18 paddler Amber Dearness put them in the finals of their divisions ahead of some very tough opponents.
Head coach Liz Thompson was super pleased with the club’s results after a long year of training.
“Fantastic performances by our paddlers across the full age range,” she said.
“Great to see lots of first-time kayak racers rise to the occasion, but also our more experienced members continue to improve and perform at the highest level.”
The club’s paddlers are grateful to Liz and development coach Kim Hedley for their efforts to get the team ready for the regatta, along with event managers Tineille Charteris and Rebecca Kinsella. That extends also to families, supporters and helpers who get them to training and competitions.
Young paddlers appreciate seeing Olympic athletes in races and on the sidelines, supporting them before they set off for the European summer of world champs and Olympic racing.
Maxwell Kennedy, Hannah Webb and Jacqueline Kennedy are off to do it all again in Australia next week, to represent New Zealand at the Asia Pacific Championships in the U18 division.
The event will be at the Sydney International Water Regatta Centre in Penrith, a chance for New Zealand teams to race against Australia, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and Pacific Island paddlers.
