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Photos - Nippers Series Final
Over 50 paddlers participated in our Little Nippers Series regatta on Sunday. The day proved to be a great success and enjoyed by all.
It was the final regatta in the series with the Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club being the overall top club in the series.
Once again the W1 category proved to be popular with over 20 paddlers in all competing in various categories. Usually paddling a surfrigger Ash Roozendaal opted for the "Extreme" Waka, and with a strong start saw him lead the midget and intermediate boys division and hold on to win in a comfortable style followed by the W2 waka of Wiremu Rapana and Darren Taylor. Ash took the overall title in the series for the Midget Boys with Ngarimu Grace took the intermediate boys title.
In the midget girls race we saw a good battle between Te Kahurangi Rapana and Mereana Hata where both paddlers have definitely improved not only their paddling, but also their confidence has gone up 100%. The end result saw Te Kahurangi win the race and win the overall title from Mereana.
Once again we saw the "Extreme" waka in action, this time with a paddler who has definitely improved throughout the series with 5th and 6th places from previous regattas.
Shelley Ainsley had a very good start and was able to hold onto the lead and finish well in front of her fellow competitors. Although she did not have enough points to win the series it proved her paddling skills and mental toughness has definitely improved.
The overall winner in the series by one point was Josephine Wilson from Te Waka Hoe o Pokohinu followed by Atea Rangihika (Tarawera) and Sharleen Mahutoto (Tuatara).
In the W6 events Moanaroa Cruisers Boys and Haupapa Kohatu Girls from the Tuatara Wakaama Club were very strong comfortably winning the intermediate sections.
Tight on points Moanaroa Cruisers were the series winners with Mangopare from Tarawera in second. With a second place on the day Ohinemataroa from Tarawera had enough points to take the series from Haupapa Kohatu.
Tarawera Stingray Boys and Manukatutahi Girls were dominant in the series throughout once again winning their sections on the day and the overall title in the series.
It was a little disappointing not to see more clubs participate on the day but we will look forward to seeing more in next year’s series.
Coming up in September we have Nipper Sprints where we will be incorporating a J16 grade. So we hope to see you and crews there.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bertha, Karen and Puti from the Tuatara Waka Ama Club for the organisation of their crews at our regattas, Mate Senior, Mate, Reuben & Marino from Te Waka Hoe o Pokohinu for your safety out on the water. To Hiria for your help in admin.
The mamas and papas of the Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club for all your support throughout the series. To Opa Roozy for the video coverage and photos of the event and to the Rangitaiki Club for their continued support with waka, paddles and lifejackets, Paul Roozendaal for giving words of wisdom to the kids and being our celebrity guest at prize giving. The regatta could not have run smoothly without you all. Thank you.
Finally, I would like to thank our sponsors who donated prizes and made some kind of contribution toward our regattas: Opa Roozy, Underwood & Wilkins Motorcycles, Ma & Nyj (Te Arawa Paddlers, Rotorua Fire Service), Whakatane Tank Man, R'N'Byrne Ltd, Prickly Puha, Stewart St Motors, Whakatane Great Outdoors, Tui Party Hire, Matewai Hiki-Pene Whanau, Toshy Rapana (Water Safety gear, Exodus products) and Idea Services.
We look forward to seeing you all and others at our sprint regattas. All races are to help build toward the 2008 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. Information will be posted shortly on the Waka Ama Website.
Heoi ano
Raanj Rapana
Once again the W1 category proved to be popular with over 20 paddlers in all competing in various categories. Usually paddling a surfrigger Ash Roozendaal opted for the "Extreme" Waka, and with a strong start saw him lead the midget and intermediate boys division and hold on to win in a comfortable style followed by the W2 waka of Wiremu Rapana and Darren Taylor. Ash took the overall title in the series for the Midget Boys with Ngarimu Grace took the intermediate boys title.
In the midget girls race we saw a good battle between Te Kahurangi Rapana and Mereana Hata where both paddlers have definitely improved not only their paddling, but also their confidence has gone up 100%. The end result saw Te Kahurangi win the race and win the overall title from Mereana.
Once again we saw the "Extreme" waka in action, this time with a paddler who has definitely improved throughout the series with 5th and 6th places from previous regattas.
Shelley Ainsley had a very good start and was able to hold onto the lead and finish well in front of her fellow competitors. Although she did not have enough points to win the series it proved her paddling skills and mental toughness has definitely improved.
The overall winner in the series by one point was Josephine Wilson from Te Waka Hoe o Pokohinu followed by Atea Rangihika (Tarawera) and Sharleen Mahutoto (Tuatara).
In the W6 events Moanaroa Cruisers Boys and Haupapa Kohatu Girls from the Tuatara Wakaama Club were very strong comfortably winning the intermediate sections.
Tight on points Moanaroa Cruisers were the series winners with Mangopare from Tarawera in second. With a second place on the day Ohinemataroa from Tarawera had enough points to take the series from Haupapa Kohatu.
Tarawera Stingray Boys and Manukatutahi Girls were dominant in the series throughout once again winning their sections on the day and the overall title in the series.
It was a little disappointing not to see more clubs participate on the day but we will look forward to seeing more in next year’s series.
Coming up in September we have Nipper Sprints where we will be incorporating a J16 grade. So we hope to see you and crews there.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bertha, Karen and Puti from the Tuatara Waka Ama Club for the organisation of their crews at our regattas, Mate Senior, Mate, Reuben & Marino from Te Waka Hoe o Pokohinu for your safety out on the water. To Hiria for your help in admin.
The mamas and papas of the Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club for all your support throughout the series. To Opa Roozy for the video coverage and photos of the event and to the Rangitaiki Club for their continued support with waka, paddles and lifejackets, Paul Roozendaal for giving words of wisdom to the kids and being our celebrity guest at prize giving. The regatta could not have run smoothly without you all. Thank you.
Finally, I would like to thank our sponsors who donated prizes and made some kind of contribution toward our regattas: Opa Roozy, Underwood & Wilkins Motorcycles, Ma & Nyj (Te Arawa Paddlers, Rotorua Fire Service), Whakatane Tank Man, R'N'Byrne Ltd, Prickly Puha, Stewart St Motors, Whakatane Great Outdoors, Tui Party Hire, Matewai Hiki-Pene Whanau, Toshy Rapana (Water Safety gear, Exodus products) and Idea Services.
We look forward to seeing you all and others at our sprint regattas. All races are to help build toward the 2008 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. Information will be posted shortly on the Waka Ama Website.
Heoi ano
Raanj Rapana
