Power duo the Dearlove siblings Reuben and Tamsyn took out overall line honours in Saturdays Matson Vaka Eiva 12k singles races.

Twenty-five women lined up for the first race of the day, with Dearlove taking a lead on her OC1 closely followed by Paulina Beddoes also OC1 and the two kept the lead on the pack, increasing it on the surf leg back from Matavera Point to come over the line in 1.15.38 and 1.15.54 respectively taking out the MW40 and MW50 categories.

Te tupu’s Kelly Pick rounded off third overall place in the OC1 division in a time of 1.18.39.

Veteran paddlers Serena Hunter and Vesna Radonich of New Zealand were head to head for the first few km, with Serena first v1 around the turn buoy at Matavera.  The return leg home saw a change in the lead, with NTVs Ioana Turia sneaking up on the surf leg to overtake Hunter just after Club Raro and maintaining her lead to finish 1^st open women V1 in a time of 1.18.23 with Hunter in 1.19.05. 

“To win the open women’s v1 race has long been a goal and would not have been possible without the support of my coaches Fletcher and Vaea Melvin,” said Turia. 

“I would also like to acknowledge Serena Hunter for always setting the benchmark locally and on a global scale for other paddlers like myself, giving us something to work towards.”

Top New Zealand masters paddler Radonich finished 3^rd V1 and 1^st in MW40s category in a time of 1.21.16.  

Tamsyn Dearlove. MELINA ETCHES/ 24112342

Ngakau Toa’s Talissa Koteka took 3^rd place V1 open in a time of 1.22.00, with Tahitian junior champion Mihinoa Paari finishing in a time of 1.22.40 taking first in the J19 category.   Australias top J19 paddler Jess Crowe finished 2^nd in the J19 category in a time of 1.24.14.

The youngest paddlers in the field who did an impressive job in the conditions were J14 Kaiarihi Neho (Junior boy who raced in the womens race), 15^th overall in a time of 1.30.06, with Te Tupu’s Makenna Gribble happy to complete the course in a time of 1.41.50.

For the mens race, Te tupu’s Reuben Dearlove, Andre Tutaka George, and Australias national champ Matt Abbott took an early break away from the rest of the field. 

Dearlove had a sterling race powering through to extend his lead to the turn buoy, and enjoying a sleigh ride back home finishing in a time of 1.06.34.  

Tutaka George and Abbott switched leads throughout the course, with Tutaka George giving the extra to cross the finish line in a time of 1.09.01 with Abbott close behind in 1.09.36. 

New Zealand’s Mark Malaki Williams took 4^th overall in a time of 1.11.14, with Cook Islander Glenn Nooroa now hailing from Cairns in 1.11.49, was first OC1 over the line taking first in the mM50 Oc1 category.  

Damien Heather had a strong race finishing 2^nd in the open mens V1 category in 1.12.41 with Tupuna Amo placing 3^rd in the category in 1.14.00.  Damien Beddoes picked off paddlers in the downwind leg on his oc1 placing 2^nd MM50 in a time of 1.12.41 with Conrad Hunter rounding off the top 3 in that category in 1.14.23.  

Corey Fisher powered through the course placing first in the open mens oc1 division in 1.13.08 with JB Ioaba 2^nd in the category in 1.14.46.

Youngest paddlers, J19 Dee Akava finished in a time of 1.30.48 and Tain Armstrong of Aitutaki tackled the course on his v1 in a time of 1.37.44. 

Te Tupu stalwart Sani Sosene battled through the elements in a time of 1.42.53 in the MM70 category.

The exciting day of racing finished with the fun V6 mixed race from the Boiler to Hula Bar and back which gave teams a taste of things to come, with a fun night at The Islander for the opening dinner/prize giving.   Up next, V6 12k iron races today with the first race kicking off at 7.30am. CICA