3rd win to Dearlove

Reuben Dearlove, the country’s top oe vaka paddler, took out yesterday’s Te Aito Tane race in what were manageable sea conditions for the seasoned paddler.

The race was meant to be held on Saturday and over 24km, however due to rough seas at the weekend the course was shortened to 16km which Dearlove clocked in 1.17.05.

It was his third win in a row since the Te Aito race started.

Twenty-one paddlers took up this year’s challenge starting the race from inside Avarua harbour heading through surf towards Matavera and Muri.

Dearlove was toe-to-toe with 21-year-old Tahitian paddler Taaroaiti Teheiura in the early stages of the race but after turning into Avana passage for the lagoon leg of the race – Dearlove says he ”went all out“ into the outgoing tidal current towards Tikioki.

At Tikioki, paddlers turned at the Fruits of Raro pontoon before racing back to Muri lagoon and ending the race with a beach sprint in front of Pacific Resort.

Second place in the race went to the young Tahitian Teheiura who finished just over five minutes behind Dearlove in a time of 1.22.03.

First Te Aito Tama paddler was Andre Tutaka-George who clocked 55.26.29 in the shorter 12km race before getting back in his canoe to complete the men’s course.

Full coverage of the race including results and photos will be published in tomorrow’s Cook Islands News.