Medals galore from Samoa world champs

The gold-medal-winning Puhi Kaiariki W6 J16 women’s team and the silver-medal-winning Tama ki te Rangi W6 J16 men’s team – Horouta crews competing as Aotearoa NZ – get together during a break at the waka ama world distance championships in Samoa. They are, back (from left): Liam Nepe, Marnie Toloa, Maia Campbell, Nueva Te Whata, Kane Soto, Ella August, Elite Reti and Kyan Ayton. Front: Kaiarahi Brooking-Haapu, Marlin Toloa, Hine Brooking, Kaedyn Thrupp, Riria-Lasini Ata and Chelsea Reti. Elite and Chelsea Reti are from Nga Hoe Horo but qualified with the Horouta teams at the long-distance nationals at Whitianga in April. Picture supplied

Tairāwhiti paddlers showed they were world class when they won gold and silver medals at the waka ama long-distance world championships in Samoa.

The Aotearoa New Zealand crew of Hinekahukura Brooking, Marnie Toloa, Kaiarahi Brooking-Haapu, Riria-Lasini Ata, Ella August and Chelsea Reti won the J16 (16 years and under) women’s race of 16 kilometres in a time of one hour 31 minutes 59.2 seconds.

They had qualified for the International Va’a Federation World Distance Championships as a Horouta Waka Hoe Junior 16 women’s crew, Puhi Kaiariki, who won their division at the long-distance nationals at Whitianga in April.

World championship qualification for teams went to the winners of every division except the J19 and open grades. In those two divisions, national coaches chose what they considered to be the strongest team from all those taking part in the national champs.

At the world distance champs last month, Puhi Kaiariki — competing as Aotearoa NZ — were seven minutes 49.7 seconds faster than the runners-up, from Samoa.

One of the Puhi Kaiariki crew members, Hinekahukura Brooking, won the J16 women’s individual race, over 12 kilometres, in a time of 1:13:58.9.

Two members of the gold-medal-winning J19 elite women’s Aotearoa NZ team — Aislinn Tahiwi and Cheidan Moetara — were Horouta club members who started their waka ama journey with the YMP club.

The other members of the J19 women’s crew were Abigail Liufalani, Adrianna Gezstey, Mercy River Fariu and Taylynn Morete. Their time was 2:12:07.5 for the 24km course.

Horouta club member Sieda Tureia coached this team.

In the races for J19 V6 women and J16 V1 women, Aotearoa NZ paddlers were promoted to first place after Tahiti incurred penalties due to technical infractions.

The silver-medal-winning Aotearoa NZ J16 men’s crew qualified for the world champs as the Tama Ki Te Rangi team from Horouta. Marlin Toloa, Maia Campbell, Kane Soto, Elite Reti, Kaedyn Thrupp and Kyan Ayton covered the world champs 16km course in 1:20:26.0, just 91.1 seconds behind the winners, from Tahiti, and 6:37.2 ahead of the third placegetters, from Samoa.

Elite Reti was a member of the Nga Hoe Horo club in the Far North but joined the Horouta team for the national long-distance championships and world champs. He won silver in the world individual event over 12km. His time of 1:03:59.1 had him finishing 43 seconds behind the winner, from Tahiti, and 1:44.2 ahead of the third placegetter, from Hawaii.

Horouta club member Mahaki Albrett-Tureia was in the Aotearoa NZ elite J19 men’s team who were runners-up in their 24km race in the world distance champs. Their time of 1:53:30.5 had them finishing 6:49.0 behind the winners, from Tahiti, and 3:12.1 ahead of the third placegetters, from Hawaii.

The other members of the J19 men’s crew were Jaksyn Hepi-Ngarongo, Kaitawhiti Kereopa, Pharrel Grbic, Samuel Lees and Xenon Herbert.

Horouta paddler Vesna Radonich joined a master women’s team (40 to 49) from Haeata Ocean Sports, of Hawke’s Bay, for the national long-distance champs, and they qualified for the world champs by winning their division.

They were runners-up at Samoa, covering the 24km course in 2:08:09.5, trailing the winning crew, from Canada, by 1:26.4 and beating the third placegetters, from Australia by 1:13.0.

The other members of the master women’s team were Bernadine Murch, Roni Nuku, Geni Walters, Raanj Rapana and Amy Renall.

Paddlers from 27 countries — including 120 from New Zealand — took part in the distance champs. Aotearoa NZ teams or individuals gained eight gold, 13 silver and three bronze medals.

The other Aotearoa NZ teams and individuals to gain medals at the world distance champs in Samoa were

GOLD

Manutea Millon: open men V1.

Bryce Irving: master men 40 V1.

Mark Malaki Williams, Justin Roberts, Bryce Irving, Carl Barnes, Sam Misiepo and Jason Burgess: master men 40 V6.

Nicky Kingi: master women 50 V1.

Marcus Thompson: para men VL2.

SILVER

Pharrel Grbic: J19 men V1.

Adrianna Gezstey: J19 women V1.

Marianna Hodges: open women V1.

Jasmin Stevenson, Marianna Hodges, Ngatuire Hapi, Nicky Kingi, Te Rina Leubert and Tui McCaull: open women V6.

Laurence Atkins: master men 70 V1.

Gaylene Sciascia: master women 75 V1.

Makuini Johnson, Karl Hobman, Marcus Thompson, Mii Pepe, Christine Walters and Wayne Trott: para mixed V6.

Mii Pepe: para men VL3.

Wayne Trott: para men VL4.

BRONZE

Kacey Ngataki, Manutea Millon, Narada Bury, Simon Wolfgram, Teremoana Tere and Tupuria King: open men V6.

Nyree King: master women 60 V1.

Kura Heke: master women 70 V1.