This year the series has been well supported throughout the 10 races held with W6 fields regularly comprising of over 15 and sometimes over 20 waka, with up to 300 paddlers overall.

The races were held at different venues and hosted by different clubs all over Auckland, showcasing our sport to many interested members of the public. While this was a winter series the weather generally wasn't too bad with only one race at Birkenhead being a bit cold, wet and windy. There were also challenging conditions at Eastern Beach in Race 8 providing an enjoyable bash through rough and windy conditions, but at least the sun was shining that day.

In every category of racing competition was hot, not only for the top placegetters but also further back in the field with paddlers and teams trying to beat those that had beaten them in the previous races.

Last Race and Overall Results
The last of the AROCA 10k series was held on 27 September. An excellent event was hosted by the Manukau Club at Bucklands Beach.

W6 Events
At the Manukau event the 10k course was out and around Browns Island, with calm, overcast conditions making for good racing. Waitakere He Kotahi recorded their seventh win of the open men's series, convincingly taking out that event overall. Pupuke Moana Young Gunz came second in the race, and also second overall in the series - a team to watch in the future. Third in the series was Manukau Vaka Manu closely followed by Hauraki Phantoms and Taniwha Grizzlies Black. A good spread of clubs in the top positions.

In the last open women's race Taniwha Poutere won in their only race of the season. The second placegetters in that event, Orakei Vairua O Te Onu, continued their consistent performances, having won 5 races and being overall series winners. Third place at the Manukau event and second overall in the series went to Pineula Fury. A great effort throughout the series saw Taniwha Bar Italia - an under 19s team - come through for third place overall. Then came Pakuranga Mix it Up and Portage Crossing Manawa Ataahua - again 5 different clubs in the top 5 positions.

In the Master Men's W6 Taniwha Grizzlies Gold won their 10th race of the season - a faultless performance with a lot of daylight to the next master's teams and showing class even amongst the open men. Men in Black II was a surprise second in the last race, just heading off second placegetters in the series Manukau Vaka Manu and third placegetters overall, Taniwha Grizzlies White. Four of the top five placegetters in the series were Taniwha teams, showing the strength of masters paddling in that club. Good one Manukau for keeping them honest!!

In the Master Women's W6 Tamaki Shadz and Bladz won every one of the 10k races they entered - 8 in all, and usually by good margins. Consistent second places brought Waitakere Westie Women through to second place overall in the series, followed by Tamaki Cruzers in third.

The W6 Mixed saw the winning performances come from the Cook Islands Club - their teams Oro Moana and Moanaroa coming first and second in the series followed by Orakei Onu Toa. It was really good to see a relatively new club doing so well, keep it up Cookies!!

W1 and W2 Events
The W1 and W2 events were held over 5k distances, out towards Browns Island and back. John Papalii from Pineula (previously from Hauraki) won the race, coming second overall in the series behind Brent Whitcombe of Waitakere (previously Pineula). Brent won all but one of the 7 races he entered. Second in the last race and 5th overall in the series was Lee Poimafiti from Manukau. Third in the series was Keri Stevens from Hauraki and 4th Cherokee Dolan, also Hauraki. Bo Herbert won the only race he entered midway through the series.

The Master Men's saw those old campaigners Mike Hickson (Waitakere) winning the last race and 5 others in the series to take out overall honours, followed in the series by Bunny Palmer of Taniwha and Tame Tane of Manukau. Other winners in the series included Tom Nathan of Manukau and Ed Richards from Taniwha.

Some of the closest racing throughout the series was in the Open Men's W2. Mark and Marty from Taniwha and Pete and Andrew from Waitakere were often seen paddling side by side, but Mark and Marty always had that bit extra at the end, winning all of their races. Third place in the W2s went to Turtle Power of Orakei.

Another of our well known paddlers, Bernie Murch of Taniwha, took out her 4th win of the series in the last race, winning the open women's W1 series overall. Leanne Haronga from Manukau came second in the last race, and second overall, winning three races during the series. Third in the last race and third overall in the series was Heidi Verhagen of Taniwha. Fourth in the series, and winner of the very first race was Maria Horne of Waitakere.

In the Master Womens W1 Katja Hidebrand of Pineula (previously Tamaki) showed her class by winning the 6 races she entered, being series winner also ahead of second-placed Liz Tane of Tamaki (winner of the first three races) and Maria Tetohu of Waitakere (winner of Race 4).

Consistent efforts saw Double Trouble from Waitakere win the Open Women's W2 series, followed by Aroha and Katrina from Pineula and Cheryl and Wati-Ann from Cook islands.

Club Winners
The prestigious overall club winner's title for 2003 went to Taniwha, followed by last year's winners Waitakere and thenTamaki in third place. 13 of the 14 AROCA clubs paddled in the series.

Visitors
It was good to see out-of-region teams paddling in the series. Mitamitaga teams regularly competed and the Mermaids particularly would have been top placegetters in the series if they had qualified for points - well done ladies and thanks for the excellent competition you provided. Thanks also to WDBA, Owhiua and Rangaunu for their support during the series.

Juniors
Last but not least it was great to see bigger fields in the Junior categories this year. Sugar and Spice from Waitakere were deserved series winners in the girls J16s, taking out 7 races in all in a hard fought series. Last race winners Tiare Maori from Tamaki were second overall with Waitakere All Things Nice coming in third. Waitakere paddlers dominated the J16 W1 events, the overall winner being Tamara Panapa, just pipping Olivette Tetohu who got tangled with seaweed in the last race. Ashley Stowers was the series third placegetter. Jamie-Lee Rahiri of Taniwha was mistakenly entered in the J19s in the series, and won that category, but would also have deservedly taken out her correct category as a J16, being right up with the open women in her races. Well done Jamie-Lee.