WAKA AMA - Silver lining to grannies' go-hard attitude

Six Northland "grannies" have won silver medals at the Waka Ama National Sprint Champs.
The competition at Lake Karapiro was fierce but the grandmothers, who had been paddling together for the past few months, "dug in" and came up trumps.
One of the women, Whangarei's Sherry Carne, 59, said the event was "a real adrenaline rush".
"It's like, bang! It's very quick and it burns. Your throat is so dry. It's focus, timing, intensity. You can't breathe," she said.
The women from team Te Ao Wahine, made up from clubs around Northland, are so proud of their second places in both the Women's Golden Masters 500- and 1000-metre sprints that they haven't stopped carrying their medals around.
"We need counselling to separate us from them," Mrs Carne joked as she and two other team members chortled like sisters. "We have a lot of fun together."
Te Ao Wahine are Christine Anderson, Lyn Hadrup, Sherry Carne, Margaret McLennan, Lynley McFarland and steerer, Kura Heke.
Around 5000 spectators flocked to the Waikato lake on Saturday to see the competition. Olympian and world champion rower Mahe Drysdale presented the women with their medals.
"He was just lovely," Mrs Carne said.
The grandmothers said their children had grown up, giving them the independence to "go hard" at waka ama.
But, they joked, someone was always "missing in action" because of grandchildren being born or other ties.
"It's good though, if someone needs a bandaid there's always a granny around."
The women said they loved the sport so much they didn't even mind getting up at the crack of dawn to train.
"Being part of a waka ama team is not just about you. Everyone has their role," Mrs Carne said.
The most rewarding part of the sport was the friendship that came from being part of such a strong team of women.
"I just love it, getting out on the water. It's so beautiful and peaceful. You can just imagine."
Northland results:
Golden Master Women W6 1000: 2nd Te Ao Wahine - Tai Tokerau Polynesian Canoe.
Golden Master Men W6 1000: 2nd, Tai Tokerau Golden Master Men - Tai Tokerau Polynesian Canoe.
Open Men W6 1500: 2nd, Herberts On Tour - Nga Hoe Horo Outrigger Canoe.
Open Women W6 1500: 1st, Wahine Kowhai Nga Hoe Horo Outrigger Canoe.
Senior Master Women WT12 500: 2nd, Muriwhenua - Tai Tokerau Polynesian Canoe.
Master Women W6 1000: 2nd, Once Were Mermaids - Mitamitaga o le Pasefika Vaa' Alo.