Race 3 - Ngatitoa (8km)- Sunday 12th October 2008

The fine warm weather and the Ngatitoa Domain Venue at Mana proved a real hit for paddlers on Sunday, a day where the thermal clothing stayed in the car and shorts and tee shirts were the gear of choice. We had 58 paddlers on the water, which was by far our best turnout over the 5 years we have been running the Series it also showed us that this Venue is one that we will be visiting more often over the summer.

The race course was:

• Heading parallel to the beach to Goat Point
• Turning left at the buoy there
• Heading out and around the inner reef
• Back to goat point
• past the start finish line and up through the mooring Poles to the last of these poles at Te Onepoto Bay
• Back to the finish.

Of the bigger number of competitors today in each class, the OC6's provided 6 crews, of these 3 Senior and 3 Junior crews, we also had 9 Mens O.C.1's, which has always provided the bulk of the competitors in most of the fortnightly races.

New this week to the Series were 2 paddlers on Stand Up Paddle boards they opted for the 4.5 km course around Goat point and around the Reef and back. The course was fairly flat and windless with the ripples out on the water mainly coming from the various motor boat wakes, which was our only chance of catching a ride, that and sitting behind any one of the OC6 crews.

THANK YOU TO:

• A huge thanks goes out to the Adults who provided support for the Junior Crews, paddling with them, organising and transporting them to the Venue.
• To both "The don't touch my food" crews thanks for the entertainment provided at the Spot prize draw.
• Dave Fisher for giving us GPS distance on the course (8km)
• Karmen Wallace who took all the photos for Sharlene this week
• and for all those who entered the race

This weekend a minority of us that do the Surf ski and Waka Ama Series are doing the Ruamahanga River Relay it's about 90 kms in 4 legs some 18km some 25 to 30 km. Myself, Pete Notman Les Morris and Dave Hicks are over doing that one in various teams or as individuals doing the full distance, it's on Saturday Morning and runs from Gladstone through to Lake Ferry

Change of Venue 2nd November - Days Bay - now being held at Petone by Kokiri / Wgtn Waterski Club:
I have been aware that the Vaka Eiva paddle is on over in the Cook Islands from November 14 to 21. With many of crews in the past having supported the series and are training for this event and the fact that the OC6 crews are joining us in good numbers and logistically they are more difficult to get crews organised, boats rigged or transported we will change the November 2 venue to an area that assists these paddlers, so now being held at Petone between Kokiri and the Wellington Waterski Club.

Course:
To the Interislander reclaimed land and return. Distance 13.5 km. We may also have an 8km course along the same stretch just e-mail me back if anyone would like this option?

Click the below link to see the Race Photo's:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29817729@N02/sets/72157607947197036/show/

Race Results:

OC1 - Mens: Joern Scherzer 44:27,1; Neil O'Brien 45:23,2; William Johnstone 47:08,3; George Faalogo 47:50,4; Dave Ryde 48:36,5; James Sadler 49:06,6; Chris Mike 49:51,7; Peki Emery 49:51,8; Brendan Comerford 53:53,9.
OC1 - Womens: Raewyn Anderson 53:57,1.
OC1 - Junior Men: Tuhiwai Hauti-Parapara 54:26,1.
OC6: Toa 41:51,1; Tu Nui 42:49,2; Wairere 47:11,3.
OC6 - Juniors: Don't touch my food Two. 46:07,1; Don't touch my food One. 47:49,2; T Birds 49:12, 3.
OC2 Selena Katene/Grant Barriball 44:19,1.
Sea Kayaks: David Fisher 49:49,1; Pete Notman 50:21,2; Diane Morgan 57:29,3.
Surf Ski: Dave Hicks 40:54,1; Chester Burt 40:55,2; Craig Anderson 40:56,3; Kevin O'Connor 49:41,4.
SUP's (4.5km) Rob Collins 48:09 Howie Clarke 48:09