Bragging rights earned in Kumete sports

Avatiu-Nikao won the annual Kumete Sport trophy on Monday and earned the bragging rights for the next year.

Avatiu-Nikao and Arorangi got their Kumete campaign off to a great start when Geoff Stoddart of Avatiu-Nikao and Roland Neururer of Arorangi took out Saturdays round Raro cycle race in a joint time of 48.53 the first event of the Kumete sports programme.

18 cyclists rolled off the start line and into strong headwinds on Saturday afternoon which made for tough riding around the island.

Second place went to Arorangi rider Richard Vinsen in a time of 55.02 closely followed by Ngatangiia-Matavera cyclist Corey Marshall in 48.59.

In the womens division Avatiu-Nikao rider Jennie George led the ladies home in a time of 55.02 and was closely followed by Rangi Apera (Ngatangiia-Matavera) in a time of 55.03, Vanessa Palmer (Avatiu-Nikao) in a time of 55.05 and Kelly Pick (Ngatangiia-Matavera) in a time of 55.07.

At Mondays track and field events at the BCI Stadium, a small but enthusiastic group of athletes from Avatiu-Nikao, Arorangi and Tupapa turned out to represent their village.

Some fantastic competition was seen especially in the junior and masters sprint events.

The master mens 60m dash was a competitive and intense affair which included a couple of false starts due to the eagerness of the athletes to get going.

The race was certainly a crowd pleaser and so was the ever popular tug-o-war rope pulling competition.

In fact this was a hotly contested event with plenty of good natured jostling between the rope pullers and vocal support especially from the junior athletes who watched on as the open men showed their foot grip and strength.

As well as the competition on the track and field, there was plenty of discussion about the running of the annul sports day.

In recent years low numbers at the event have become the norm although some of the masters athletes remember a day when everyone in the village come out to take part in the Kumete sports.

Despite the low numbers, many commented that the number of athletes at the stadium on Monday was definitely a better turnout than in recent years and the hope is that the popularity of the event will grow again in coming years.

Kumete cycle race result (Avatiu-Nikao) Geoff Stoddart-48:53, Jennie George-55:02, Vanessa Palmer-55:05, Rhys Woodger-61:23, (Arorangi) Roland Neururer-48:53, Richard Vinsen-48:58, Rob Buick-59:52, Steve Whitta-60:23, Jules Maher-64:12, (Ngatangiia-Matavera) Corey Marshall-48:59, Rangi Apera-55:03, Kelly Pick-55:07, Debbie Moore-64:12, Rebecca Dryland-85:00, (Tupapa-Maraerenga) Brendon Sutherland-49:13, Mark Worthington-55:06, Jacob Pynenburg-55:11, (Titikaveka) Andy Olah-68:26.