We have held the trophy for 10 of the 11 years it has been awarded.  We are privileged for having it for so long, but we don’t take it for granted and an important part of our planning for Nationals revolves around retaining it. And this is possible because we have some world class coaches in our club and this rubs off on to other coaches in the club as well. We also have a lot of teams which also helps, but you still need the paddlers to be performing at their best to make finals and help with the points tally.  Whether its 8 points for winning the Gold or 1 point for finishing 8th or further in a final, it all adds up.

We invest a lot in our kids and this has been the mantra upon which the club was founded in the first place and which continues today – to provide our kids with the opportunity to paddle and paddle to the best of their ability and give them the belief that they can be a champion. And my job as club chairman? I say yes to everything because it represents an opportunity. And if I say no then I have to have a good reason to say no – and usually in explaining your reason you’ll find the answer to actually say yes again. Anything is possible.

FUN FACT: Horouta was formed in mid-1998 and the first team the club had was Horouta Brix J16 Men who won a Silver medal at the Worlds in Fiji in 1998. But the team actually qualified at the Nationals earlier that year under the name Mareikura Brix.