About 25 Whakatāne-based waka ama paddlers travelled to Porirua to participate in the 2025 long distance championships last month, some of them returning with medals.

Members from Waka Ama O Whakatāne and Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club competed with the rest of New Zealand in single (W1), duo (W2) and W6 classes over distances of 8 kilometres, 16km and 24km.

In the single W1 class participants can enter in the ruddered (OC1) and/or the rudderless (V1)canoe. Tui McCaull secured silver in the masters women in a ruddered canoe.

Long time waka ama stalwarts Sonia Stewart from Waka ama O Whakatāne and Bevan Roozendaal from Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club finished outside the medals in their age classes.

In the Golden Master Mixed W2 canoes, two teams from Waka Ama O Whakatāne finished just outside the medals in fourth and fifth. Ivan Hindmarsh together with Lilian Wharewera were just a little bit faster than Steve and Jocelyn Curtis.

The Tarawera Autaikura W6 Open Women’s team, which is made up of paddlers from Wellington, Rotorua and Whakatāne including Tui McCaull, dominated the 24km race.

After securing the New Zealand sprint 1500 metre turn race title earlier this year, they again proved they are the best in New Zealand by securing gold in the 24km race in just over two hours. The individual members of this team were also successful in several single canoe races with Jas Stevenson being crowned as the New Zealand long distance champion in the OC1 class.

Whakatāne-based paddlers Greg Patterson, Mark Pilcher and Tracy Zander formed a Senior Master Mixed team with Jane Townsend, Paula West and Jeff Rob (steerer) from the Tauranga-based club, Korutanga Pirates. They claimed the New Zealand title for this age group, completing their race in 2 hrs and 4 minutes.

Patterson said it was a great event and well organised.

“The conditions were excellent, we even got great bump rides on the downwind leg. The team went very well, we were balanced and strong throughout the race.”

He said for Zander, who was competing in her first long-distance race, it was a huge buzz to pick up a gold medal.

Ken Henry and Sonia Stewart paddled with a Gisborne team to win a silver medal in the Golden Master Mixed class. Kaeydyn Thrupp secured a bronze medal with his Gisborne team in the J19 youth class.

Waka ama O Whakatane had a further two teams competing; a Golden Master Mixed team named Mataatua Mix, which finished sixth in their 16km race, and a Golden Master Men called Whakatāne Bros. who also finished sixth.