Araura Enua blitzes 15km

Araura Enua under 19 womens oe vaka crew blitzed their age groups 15km open ocean race yesterday to win for their home island.

The ladies finished over 2 minutes head of their opponents from the Sunshine Coast.

The Aitutaki women won the race in 1:39:45 followed by the Sunshine Coast team in 1:41:32.

Third place went to the second Sunshine Coast team who finished in 1:57:56.

There was more drama in the under 19 mens division with local club Ngakau Toa Vaka capsizing they were declared to not have finished their race.

Despite this though there is no doubt that the young male paddlers learned valuable lessons and will come back stronger paddlers in their next race.

At the head of the pack though the Sunshine Coast under 19 mens team were in a league of their own finishing the 15km race in 1:18:22 - over six minutes head of second place getters from Araura Enua who finished in 1:24:59.

Third place went to Sunshine Coast 2 who finished in 1:25:14.

Junior paddlers wrapped up the Mapu Oe Vaka division of Vaka Eiva yesterday with a fun Cook Islands challenge afternoon filled with traditional Cook Islands games.

Congratulations to all the junior paddlers who will no doubt return next year for more on the water Vaka Eiva action.