Pacific

Day 5 photos

Boys bounce back

Mixed boys crew Cook Islands International tipped over in the junior under 19 open ocean race of Vaka Eiva yesterday morning. The crew was made up of Cook Islanders, New Zealanders and Australians. They were offshore from Club Raro about 2km from the finish line in the 15km race when they were caught by a […]

Unsquashable!

Of all the crews racing Vaka Eiva this year, the Unsquashables might have the least combined paddling experience – but they’re probably having the most fun. A few months ago, a group of local squash players were having some post-tournament drinks, and spontaneously resolved to enter the biggest and most competitive paddling festival of the […]

U15 battle

Today’s soccer match will see the Under 15 girls battling it out at Raemaru Park at 4.15pm. Tupapa are currently sitting on top of the points table while Arorangi sit in third place. A win to Tupapa will see them take the Round Cup competition in the Under 15 girls division for 2010. Draw and […]

Kiwi and Hawaiian juniors win 15km

Eight under 19 oe vaka crews took on the challenge of yesterday’s 15km open ocean race in hot and calm conditions with the Kiwi and Hawaiian crew proving to be the strongest on the day. Under 19 men’s crew King Justice from Te Puu Ao Tuturu club in New Zealand cleaned up their division in […]

Business house golf tees off

The Business house golf ambrose starts today and tomorrow for 11 weeks, with break during the Christmas and New Year period. The conveners for 2010/11, Ned Howard, and his working committee anticipate another high turnout for the long 11 week tournament. This tournament will test the caliber of non playing members who would like to […]

Late call pays off for Cohen

Until four weeks ago, OC1 champion Todd Cohen didn’t know he’d be paddling in this year’s Vaka Eiva festival. But when Crown Beach Kings teammate Chris Maynard rallied him and some other paddling buddies together last month to form a makeshift Vaka Eiva crew, Cohen promptly upped his training regime. For a month he was […]

Paddlers head around Raro

Another full day of paddling is on the cards today with the mixed round Raro relay and junior open ocean races. Junior under 19 paddlers will kick start the day’s races with their 15km open ocean race at 8am. Junior men and women crews will race at the same time while the under 14 and […]

Sprints, partying at Muri

The weather at Muri yesterday was perfect for Vaka Eiva partying and sprint races with some great times seen throughout the days racing. A rousing and spine tingling Turou (traditional welcome) got the blood of the 600 plus paddlers and supporters pumping as they were escorted across Muri beach by fierce Cook Islands warriors. The […]

Sweet idea inspires organisers

Inspired by 17-year-old paddler Jenaya Davis, Vaka Eiva organisers are running a ‘guess how many jelly beans’ competition to raise more funds for Te Vaerua Rehabilitation Service. Before coming to Rarotonga for her second Vaka Eiva – Davis raised funds for Te Vaerua at her high school in Queensland. She raised $400 and inspired Vaka […]

Boiler brings in the money

Tuesday’s Trader Jacks charity boiler swim for all Vaka Eiva paddlers and supporters raised $800 for Te Vaerua Rehabilitation Service. Despite the wet and ‘cold’ conditions – 74 hardy swimmers took to the water for the fun annual swim around the boiler just outside the Avarua harbour. Each swimmer made a gold coin donation to […]

Like father, like son

This year’s Vaka Eiva marks the first time champion paddler Chris Maynard and his 18-year-old son Jackson have raced together. Chris said it was a “big thrill” to race with his own flesh and blood in Monday’s V6 Iron – “words can’t describe it”, he said. Tuesday was also the first time Jackson and Chris […]

Day 4 photos

OC1 and V1 differences explained

From the shore, all the single-man canoes in Saturday’s race looked similar, if not the same – but there are fundamental and decisive differences between the OC1 and the V1, which even some paddlers wouldn’t be able to explain. Some competitors were paddling rudderless outrigger canoes, designed and used by Tahitian paddlers; others were using […]

Brogan and Howard wrap up golf season

The Rarotonga Golf Club golf season has come to an end for another year. The final event on the club calendar was the finals of the Club Stroke Championships. This was a gruelling event on the last day with all divisions apart from the vets playing 36 holes. Some finalists were able to set up […]

Fun day for young paddlers

Yesterday’s Mapu Sprints in Muri was all about fun and games for the 140 junior paddlers taking part in the Vaka Eiva Festival. Paddlers and supporters began the day with a tree planting ceremony at the Nukupure Park before they were officially welcomed to Muri beach with a traditional Turou by the junior sponsors Pacific […]

Coconut racers!

Boiler Babes paddler Jana Roberts leads the pack of coconut racers back up the beach at Muri yesterday. The Mapu Sprints in Muri was all about fun and games for the 140 junior paddlers taking part in the Vaka Eiva Festival. Story, page 16. 10112354

Tree planting, Boiler swim part of festival

A tree planting ceremony is taking place this morning from 8am at Nukupure Park in Muri, to tie in with the Vaka Eiva 2010 paddling tournament. The joint initiative by the National Environment Service (NES) and Muri Environment Care Group will see at least 20 trees planted, which will be looked after by the wider […]

Day 2 photos

Cooks paddlers in the medals

Cook Islanders were in the medals once again yesterday in an exciting day of V6 Iron races. The masters/senior masters and U19 men kicked racing off in the morning over 12km. Always a race to watch, the masters paddlers didn’t disappoint with a battle from the start. The strong Raiatea Hoe crew kept the lead […]