Wow. What a day. The inaugural Aorere Splash saw six crews line up over a variety of change and iron distances on a glorious Autumn day in Kaiteretere.
Only one men’s crew did the 32km iron, and with our own Glenn Hardinge in the skipper’s seat he made the poor fellas do an extra long run, their unscheduled loop taking them round Tonga Island before heading home. Only Glenn would want to make an iron a double iron !
Two women’s crews from Te Tai o Aorere and Whakatu Mare contested the 32km change race distance with TTOA coming in first.
In the 52km change race, Nga Manu Whaitiri blazed a trail for the women, completing the distance in just a minute over the 5 hour mark. An amazing effort and the smiles at the end were a great indication of how much they enjoyed it.
Without doubt the race of the day – and not just because I was involved in it – was the men’s 52km change race. Over the entire distance there was never more than 200m between the teams with Motueka leading the whole upward leg, the Maitahi/Waikawa joint Double Shot Overboard crew going past them just after the turn and then ensued a gruelling run for home, with Double Shot leading all the way. Motueka closed within a couple of boat lengths over the last 500m but an elated MOCC/Waikawa held on, just, to win by 10 seconds.
Big thanks to everyone who raced and particularly to Callum and Bobby who organised the event for us. as ever, the pictures tell the real story, albeit in no particular order whatsoever.
Its never too early or too late to start paddling waka ama
We always welcome new members to the Maitahi Outrigger Canoe Club.
We have social and racing waka ama crews catering for a wide variety of ages and abilities.