Women paddlers win first medal

Team Cook Islands athletes and officials sprung into life yesterday (Monday NC time) for the first official day of sports at the Pacific Games in Noumea.

Oe vaka paddlers were up with the birds for their first sprint races in the V6 1500m and 500m races.

The womens V6 500m squad were the first to win a medal for team Cook Islands a bronze medal.

The crew will line up again on Tuesday for their V12 500m, V1 15k and 20km races.

Lousy winds saw a delayed start to the womens laser sailing race and when the winds picked up Cook Islands sailors Helema Williams and Teau McKenzie were abuzz with excitement at finally getting out on the water.

The sailing crew will sail on without their coach Laura Baldwin who had to return to Sydney for medical reasons.

Nevertheless she told her sailors that they had done all the hard work and all they had to do now was sit their exam.

Male sailors Taua Elisa and Junior Charlie were also expected to take to the water for their races wind dependant.

Bodybuilding trio Dean Teiho (75kg) and brothers Aaron (80kg) and Okirua Enoka (85kg) spent Monday morning posing and showing off their muscles in the pre judging event of the competition.

The muscle men were due to take to the stage again for the main competition on Monday evening.

After a relaxing morning of supporting fellow Team Cook Islands athletes squash players took to the courts on Monday evening for the mens team events.

Tennis duo Brittany Teei and Davina Hosking travelled out to Kemo some five hours away from Noumea for their teams event.

Prior to leaving both women told CINews that they were confident heading into the competition as the second seed team.

Updates have not come in from team manager June Baudinet due to the isolation of the tennis venue.

On Tuesday, boxers will take to the ring and the mens soccer side will take on Tahiti.