The National Outrigger OC1 Canoe Sprint Championships held at Orakei Basin over the weekend attracted most of the top waka ama paddlers normally seen in the six person format of waka ama, turn their attention to the individual class of waka ama.
The sprint course held over 500 metres at the Orakei Basin proved to be quite challenging in the rotating current within the basin, along with cross winds during some of the finals on Sunday afternoon.
These conditions kept the paddlers pulling out all the stops to keep their rudderless canoes keeping a straight line. Bernd Sommer from the Te Au Rere club in the Waikato region took out the Open Men's title with a powerful display of paddling from the start to lead all the way, with the only challenge coming from Nickolai Titov from the South Island region, forcing the Rotorua man to pull out some big strokes in the last 50 metres.
Bernadine Murch from the Taniwha club in Auckland took out the Open Women's title, looking very relaxed and in control over 500 metres, beating off the challenge of one of the best fields ever assembled for an Open Women's final, that included former national champion Gillian Warren.
The main challenge came from Leanne Haronga, who pushed Murch all the way. Haronga, who paddles for the Manukau club in Auckland, had earlier in the day taken out the Master Women's title to ensure a good return for the Manukau club.
Gavin Clark from the Nga Hoe Horo in Northland had to pull a couple of tricks out of the bag keep his club and six man team mate, former national champion Bo Herbert at bay to take out the Master Men's title.
The outstanding paddler of the two-day nationals was Emma Pere from the Horouta club in Gisborne. Emma took out both the Women's Junior 16 and Junior 19 titles, beating strong fields in both divisions with a display of ruthlessness that is adding to her ever-growing reputation.
World silver medallist in the Junior 16 division in Tahiti 2002, Mangu Kemp from the Mareikura Club in Gisborne also added to his growing reputation, winning the Junior 19 national title. The success of the Gisborne clubs at age group level continued with Bruce Campbell taking out the Junior 23 Men's tittle and Jensen Wilkie taking out the Men's Junior 16 title.
Hinetamatea Mikaere from the Nga Tai Whakarongo in the Waikato took out the Junior 23 Women's title beating off a strong field.
Senior Master tiles were taken out by Shelly Arlidge in the Women's and Brian Wilson in the Men's, who also took out a bronze medal in the Master Men's division. On the other scale, the Intermediate Women and Men's titles were taken out by Rose king from Northland and Kahutia Ward from Gisborne.
