Masters paddlers Reuben Dearlove and Serena Hunter wrapped up the Cook Islands Canoeing Association (CICA) singles season with wins at Saturday’s National Championships.

Hot flat conditions greeted the 27 paddlers for the final race of the season.  Both a short and long course option was on offer, with the course an 8-kilometre loop from the Boiler to Upper Tupapa and back into Traders, with the long course competitors heading back out again for another loop.

Dearlove and Andre Tutaka-George, who have swapped leads over the singles season with wins apiece and pushing each other consistently, put on an impressive display on Saturday, swapping the lead throughout the two laps, with Dearlove pushing through to take the win in a time of 1.17.13 hours.

Tutaka-George finished just under a minute behind in 1.18.10 hr followed by Pomare Pittman, who has had a stellar season, taking third overall in a time of 1.20.22 hr. Pittman was closely followed by his worlds teammates who have been putting in serious training sessions towards the World Distance Championships in Brazil in a few weeks’ time.

Jimmy Mataora, Raniera Ellison, Tupuna Amo and Ben Raela have pushed each other throughout the singles series with ever improving results. Raela unfortunately took too close a line on his second lap and was swept over the reef. Even in flat conditions, paddlers are always wary of the swells at the points. Papa Sani Sosene suffered a similar fate during his 8km race. 

Veteran paddler Reuben Dearlove won the Cook Islands Canoeing Association National Championships singles event on Saturday. Seed Creative Co/25061609

Sixteen-year-old Tain Armstrong, who will also be representing at the worlds in Brazil, was the only junior undertaking the long course challenge and completed in a respectable time of 1.32.17 hr.

Serena Hunter, the only female undertaking the 16km course, ended a consistent season, worked hard chasing the men, and completed in a good time of 1.28.08 hr.

Masters paddler Paulina Beddoes, who has had a great season, up there ahead of some of the young guns, took line honours in the 8km course in a time of 44.58.46 minutes, with Ioana Turia second over the line in 46.30, and Samantha Ellison taking third place in 48.57.17.  Junior paddlers McKenna Gribble and Mere Ellison, both U16 paddlers, completed the course in 55.13 and 59.30 mins, respectively.

Paddlers now look forward to the V6 season, which commences with fun 5km races Wednesday fortnightly until early August when the V6 season proper commences. 

The national paddlers continue their training efforts, with Talissa Koteka heading to represent the Cook Islands in Palau shortly in the Pacific Mini Games, and then joining her worlds teammates with the Cooks represented in the open women’s V1, open men’s V6, and J16, open men’s and MM50 singles races at the IVF Vaa World Distance Championships in Brazil early August.

CICA wishes to acknowledge Trader Jacks for katikati and refreshments following Saturday’s national champs.

• CICA

Results

16k 1. Reuben Dearlove TT 1.17.13, 2. Andre Tutaka George TT 1.18.10, 3. Pomare Pittman NTV 1.20.22, 4. Jimmy Mataora NTV 1.21.23, 5. Raniera Ellison TT 1.21.28, 6. Teava Hunter TT 1.21.35, 7. Tupuna Amo NTV 1.22.06, 8. Damien Heather NTV 1.22.08, 9. Arno Theijssen TT 1.24.23 10. Joe Horn-Smith NTV 1.27.53, 11. Serena Hunter TT 1.28.08, 12. Tain Armstrong AOV 1.32.17, 13. Rob Brown TT 1.32.34, 14. Oni TT1.42.04 15. Ben Raela NTV dnf

8km 1. Paulina Beddoes TT 44.58.46 2. Ioana Turia NTV 46.30.12, 3. Samantha Ellison TT 48.57.17, 4. Teina Taulu TT 49.44.15, 5. Craig Murray TT 49.56.06, 6. Matt Dufus TT 50.10.84   7. Annie Fisher TT 50.48.21, 8. Raewyn Morgan NTV 50.54.23, 9. McKenna Gribble TT 55.13.84, 10. Mere Ellison TT 59.30, 11. Emilene Taulu-Amo TT 59.31.16 12. Sani Sosene TT dnf