Waka ama clubs lift 6 medals

Rotorua clubs performed well at the National Waka Ama Sprint Champs last week on Lake Karapiro. Pictured is local crew Nga Kakano Arani in action last week. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua's waka ama clubs were well represented on the podium at the 26th ActivePost National Waka Ama Sprint Championships.

Local club Ruamata won six medals during the nationals, last week, with most of them coming on the final day on Saturday at Lake Karapiro.

The Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club also collected six medals and the Hei Matau Paddlers club won one medal.

The only crew from Rotorua to win a gold medal at the nationals this year was Ruamata's Up and Go Energise team which finished first in the Under-19 Men's W6 1000m event.

That crew included talented paddlers Bevan Taylor, Koroheke Moana-Taniwha, Josh Walters, Manaia Canterbury, Caesar Fuemana and Quaid Te Rangi.

The nationals this year attracted 61 clubs and about 3000 paddlers.

- Full list of podium getters from Rotorua:

Gold: Up and Go Energise (Ruamata) J19 Men's W6 1000.

Silver: Bhutty Boys (Hei Matau Paddlers) Premier Men W6 1500; Waikuta (Ruamata) Senior Master Men W6 1000; Okareka Queens (Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club) Intermediate Women W12 500; TWC La Fam (Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club) J16 Men W6 500.

Bronze: Nga Kakano Arani (Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club) Midget Women W6 500, W6 250 and W12 250; Okareka (Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club) Intermediate Women W6 500; Lakers (Ruamata) Master Men W6 1000; Pack's Angels (Ruamata) J19 Women W6 1000; Up and Go Energise (Ruamata) J19 Men W6 500; OCC Lakers (Ruamata) W12 500.