A small contingent of Whakatāne waka ama paddlers travelled to Raglan to participate in the Whaingaroa Hoe.

This regatta was organised for the 30th time, and is one of longest continuing waka ama races in New Zealand.

There were two distances on offer: an 8-kilometre race for under-16 and novice paddlers, and 20km on the beautiful Raglan Harbour for everybody else

The Golden Master Mixed Team (age 60 years and over) from Waka Ama o Whakatāne secured first place in their class.

The team, consisting of Ivan Hindmarsh, Rose Herewini, Jo Doherty, Shane Doherty, Steve Curtis and Karen Stanton finished the 20km in 1 hour 54 minutes 24 seconds.

In the same race, but in a different age class, Senior Master (50-60 years old), three paddlers from Tarawera OCC, Tracy Zander, Max Holder and Greg Patterson, paddled with three members of a Tauranga-based club.

They beat all their competitors in the same age class but came just short of the line honours, finishing fourth (all age classes) in their race.

In the 8km race, the novice team from Waka Ama o Whakatāne with Lil Wharewera, Huhana Anderson, Jonathan Platt, Emz Thomas, Wilz Kirk and Kea Parker finished fourth in a field of 18 other waka. Their time was 41.5 minutes.