Kiwi dominates Te Aito women’s race

Kiwi paddler Vesna Radonich paddled in a class of her own on Friday to take out the 2012 Te Aito Cook Islands women’s race.

Radonich clocked an impressive 1.13.37 time over the shortened 12km course that had the vaine toa battling the whole way from the start inside Avarua harbour to Club Raro for the first turn before the surf leg to Avatiu harbour and returning to Avarua harbour for the last leg back to Club Raro and back to the start/finish line.

Te Aito Cook Islands Fletcher Melvin commented that conditions were on the edge of being too big for the women and provided a great challenge for them. The race was brought forward to Friday because of concerns that Saturday’s weather would worsen, which it did.

”Te Aito is not meant to be easy and I’m glad they went out and paddled in those conditions,“ says Melvin.

Radonich lined up with eight other women. She flew off the start line and battled into the wind and surf to the first turn at Club Raro.

Behind her was strong local paddler Serena Hunter who held her own although Radonich was several hundred metres ahead by the end.

Behind Hunter on the first leg – local ladies Vaea Melvin and Jane Pearson had their own battle before Pearson flipped her vaka near the Club Raro turn.

However, Pearson coolly hauled herself back in her canoe and hunted down the lead paddlers.

On board the media boat, Te Aito founder Charlie Maitere coached the paddlers through the conditions.

Local girl Tara Cummings struggled in the wind and chop and with some wise words from Maitere she was back on track – just unfortunately it was in the wrong direction back to base.

Young Aitutaki paddler Tuangaru Rimatuu found the conditions very challenging compared to the tranquil Aitutaki lagoon and decided to end her race safely and return back to base.

Back on the water mama Annie Fisher and Joyce Fortes were having their own battle in the OC1 canoes and paddled strongly to place fourth and sixth overall.

Radonich was crowned the Te Aito Vaine champion followed over 5 minutes later by local girl Serena Hunter clocking in at 1.19.58 to take second place while Vaea Melvin took third place in 1.25.46.

Annie Fisher was first home in the OC1 class clocking 1.27.49 followed by Jane Pearson in 1.29.11 on her rudderless vaka.

Joyce Fortes, who was a last minute entry in the race, smiled her way through the rough seas clocking 1.29.12 for the 12km race with V1 paddler Chrissy Thomas finishing in 1.32.00.

Fletcher Melvin was very impressed with the way the ladies handled the conditions and hopes that the challenging conditions will attract more top paddlers to our shores for future Te Aito Cook Islands races.