Hot flat sea conditions made it a tough grind for paddlers in the National Singles Championships on Saturday.

A good number of paddlers have been on the line for the National Singles Series over the last two months, with varied conditions providing a good challenge.

Twelve paddlers were on the start line for the long 18km course on Saturday from the Boiler in Avarua to Avana and back. 

Te Tupu o Te Manava paddlers dominated the top placings, with top masters paddlers Reuben Dearlove and Andre Tutaka-George taking an early lead on the rest of the field and paddled pretty much neck to neck to the halfway point. Then Dearlove extended his lead on the home leg to finish in 1.37.15 hours with Tutaka-George two and a half minutes behind in 1.39.47 hrs. 

Masters’ paddler Arno Theijssen who has had a great season rounded off the top three in 1.47.02 hrs.

Female masters’ paddler Serena Hunter looked in control in her race, also extending her lead after the halfway point, coming across the line in a time of 1.53.03.55 hrs, some 3 minutes ahead of Ngakau Toa’s Ioana Turia in 1.56.02 hrs, with Talissa Koteka rounding off the top three in 1.58.17 hrs. 

“It was a tough one,” said Hunter. “I think everyone dug deep in that one, definitely no hiding.”

In the 12km short course from the Boiler to the Matavera point and back, Te Tupu’s senior master paddler Conrad Hunter took line honours in 1.13.13 hrs, with Rob Brown two minutes behind in second place, and Te Tupu’s Kelly Pick, who had a blistering race, third overall and the first woman in in 1.15.42 hrs.

A special mention must be made to the junior U16 paddlers Makenna Gribble and Maddy Spurle who took on the 12km challenge.

The Cook Islands Canoeing Association (CICA) is looking forward to seeing more from these youngsters and others.

Racing continues in two weeks’ time with the V6 National Series which will culminate in the 18km National Champs at the end of September.

Paddlers have a busy season ahead, with the Cook Islands Games in October, and Vaka Eiva in November.

The Cook Islands will also be representing in next week’s International Va’a Federation World Sprints Championships in Hilo, Hawaii, with a junior 16 girls team coached by Tupuna Amo departing Rarotonga this weekend.  CICA wishes these national reps all the very best.

Meanwhile Jules Tamaariki is the newly appointed coordinator for Vaka Eiva 2024. She is currently working through registrations for the event.

The Vaka Eiva will be held from November 22 to 29, registrations will close on October 2.

Results

Cook Islands Canoe Association Singles Nationals: Boiler/Matavera Catholic Church/Trader Jacks                                                            

1st       1          Conrad Hunter TT       OC1    SMM   1:13:13.38       12km

2nd      2          Rob Brown     TT       OC1    SMM   1:15:13.48       12km

3rd       1          Kelly Pick       TT       OC1    MW     1:15:42.82       12km  

4th       2          Paulina Beddoes         TT       OC1    MW     1:17:41.07       12km  

5th       3          Joshua Mitchell           TT       OC1    SMM 1:17:42.57         12km  

6th       1          Ana File-Heather         NTV    V1       OW     1:19:33.99       12km  

7th       2          Samantha Puati-Ellison TT    V1       OW     1:22:54.97       12km  

8th       1          Teina Taulu     TT       V1       GMW  1:25:01.42       12km  

9th       3          Leilani Sadaraka-Gardiner NTV V1 OW 1:25:20.95 12km  

10th     1          Cathy Elder NTV       OC1    OW     1:26:17.7 12km          

11th     2          Pip Hansen NTV        OC1    OW     1:26:36.86       12km 

12th     2          Annie Fisher    TT       V1       GMW 1:28:32.88        12km  

13th     3          Jules Tamaariki           TT       OC1    MW     1:29:02.60       12km  

14th     5          Makenna Gribble TT  V1       JW16 1:32:36.57         12km  

15th     4          Cecelia Teariki            NTV    V1       OW     1:37:21.39       12km  

16th     3          Maddy Spurle  TT       OC1    JW16 1:38:51.73         12km  

Boiler / Motu Tapu / Traders                                                                                      

1st        1          Reuben Dearlove        TT       V1       MM     1:37:15.62       18km  

2nd      1          Andre Tutaka-George TT       V1       OM      1:39:47.70       18km  

3rd       2          Arno    TT       V1       MM     1:47:02.36       18km  

4th       2          Teava Hunter   TT       V1       OM      1:47:57.67       18km  

5th       1          Damien Beddoes         TT       OC1    OM      1:48:08.18       18km  

6th       3          Raniera Ellison            TT       V1       OM      1:51:19.82       18km  

7th                   Tara Cummings           NTV    SS        OW     1:53:01.11       18km  

8th       1          Serena Hunter TT       V1       OW     1:53:03.55       18km  

9th       2          Ioana Turia      NTV    V1       OW     1:56:02.17       18km  

10th     3          Talissa Koteka NTV    V1       OW     1:58:17.40       18km  

11th     3          Joe Horn-Smith           NTV    V1       MM     2:00:35.86       18km  

12th     2          Corey Fisher    TT       OC1    OM      2:01:54.50       18km  

Race start: 2 pm, Safety - Lee Horton and John Beasley, Time Keeper - Tania Wichman.