Team Kingfisher have continued their comeback to waka ama racing with a comprehensive victory in the Tauranga Harbour Challenge.
The crew, formerly known as Team Goodyear, burst back on to the scene last month when they finished second in the Takapuna Cup 42km race. They went one better at the weekend, comfortably claiming the 26km race in Tauranga.
Team spokesman Paul Roozendaal said it was great to regain the title his crew held from 2003 to 2009. He said after coming fourth last year, it was satisfying to beat the defending champions.
"We seem to have [found] the flair we once had for many years, taking a convincing win ahead of last year's champions Manukau," he said.
Roozendaal said the team had stepped up their training in the lead-up to the Tauranga event and that had paid off on the water. With the crew based in Rotorua and Tauranga, the paddlers do a lot of individual training, as well as meeting for team sessions at Okere Falls.
