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 until the turnaround buoy where Te Tupu masters snuck in and fought hard on the downwind leg.

“It was great teamwork, the guys pushed it in the surf,” said master steersman Sani Sosene. The Te Tupu men caught a couple of good little bumps on the home straight to give them the edge coming home in 59 minutes with Raiatea Hoe 36seconds behind, and a close finish between Mana Menz in third in 1.00.31 and the Natives in 1.00.38.

Hawaiian Canoe Club crew took out the senior masters division in a time of 1.05.46 with Anuenue steered by Nappy in second and NZ’s Fluffy Slippers in third. NZ crew King Justice took out the U19 division in a time of 1.02.43 with Te Tupu juniors just over two minutes behind in second and NZ crew Tumutoa in third.

Fifteen crews lined up in the open men’s race. A torrential downpour hit paddlers shortly into the 18km race but did nothing to affect the pace.

The Boiler Boyz International crew led by top Cooks paddler Reuben Dearlove, had Aussie crew Crown Beach Kings and Outrigger NZ breathing down their necks to the turnaround at Avana, but the firepower added by the three New Caledonian guns went into play with Boiler Boyz International gunning it on the downhill run to easily take line honours in a time of 1.16.47 with Crown Beach Kings with father/son combo Chris Maynard and Jackson at stroke and steering, second in 1.19, and a dogfight between local crew Ngakau Toa Vaka and Outrigger NZ for third with the Kiwi crew just inching ahead in 1.20 with NTV in 1.20.17.

There was a huge upset in the open women’s race with “unknowns” Te Karere Arikipuia from Porirua, Wellington paddling to a clear lead from the start, and top crews from last year’s Vaka Eiva, the Big Island Girls, Makana Alii and Paddle NZ(Lara’s lot) battling for second.

Spectators along the coast were baffled as to who the mystery crew in the lead was.

At the Avana turnaround Te Karere Arikipuia had a one minute lead on their rivals, which they extended on the downward run paddling to a clear win in a time of 1.30.28 over two minutes clear of last year’s winners Hawaii’s Big Island Girls in 1.32.52, and Hawaii’s Makana Alii scooping up third in 1.32.58.

Local crew Ngakau Toa Vaka had a strong fifth placing in 1.36.01 with Te Tupu women in seventh in 1.40.50. Winners Te Karere Arikipuia were ecstatic with their win, which was all the more amazing as the crew includes four sisters, NZ based Cook Islanders Mereana (who placed 2nd masters OC1 on Saturday), Mariana, Pania , and Teremoana Hodges.

“We’re doing this for our aunty. Her spirit was with us today,” said Mereana Hodges (niece of well known journalist Elma Maua who passed away earlier this year).

All eyes will no doubt be on this crew for the premier event on Friday. Hopefully they will conserve some energy as they also plan on doing the mixed Thursday Round Raro race with their brother and in-laws.

“The guys better step it up for that one,” laughed Teremoana Hodges.